Expanding the Sacred Circle: Linton Stephens, Leadership, Loneliness, and the Defense of Slavery in the Old South

Aim: This study examines how Linton Stephens’ loneliness, political leadership, and defense of slavery mirrored other public intellectuals in the antebellum South. Methods: The study draws on primary and secondary sources, including Drew Gilpin Faust’s take on intellectual history in the Old South to shine more light on Stephens. Results: Like other intellectuals in the antebellum South, including the “Sacred Circle” described by Faust, Stephens faced loneliness in his personal life and political isolation while still championing race-based slavery. Conclusion: Stephens’ life mirrored many of the same aspects and experiences that Faust found in the intellectuals and public figures she studied. Recommendations: Since Stephens reflected the same tendencies that Faust’s “Sacred Circle” displayed, intellectual historians studying the Old South should examine the childhoods and loneliness of key figures to mine more insights on their leadership and defense of slavery.