Catharine Maria Sedgwick (December 28, 1789 - July 31, 1867), was an American novelist of what is sometimes referred to as "domestic fiction". She promoted Republican motherhood.Catharine Maria Sedgwick was born December 28, 1789 in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Her mother was Pamela Dwight (1752-1807) of the New England Dwight family, daughter of General Joseph Dwight (1703-1765) and granddaughter of Ephraim Williams, founder of Williams College. Her father was Theodore Sedgwick (1746-1813), a prosperous lawyer and successful politician. He was later elected Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and in 1802 was appointed a justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court