Edward Beecher (August 27, 1803 – July 28, 1895) was an American

theologian Theology is the study of religious belief from a religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of ...

, the son of Lyman Beecher and the brother of

Harriet Beecher Stowe Harriet Elisabeth Beecher Stowe (; June 14, 1811 – July 1, 1896) was an American author and Abolitionism in the United States, abolitionist. She came from the religious Beecher family and wrote the popular novel ''Uncle Tom's Cabin'' (185 ...

and

Henry Ward Beecher Henry Ward Beecher (June 24, 1813 – March 8, 1887) was an American Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, and speaker, known for his support of the Abolitionism, abolition of slavery, his emphasis on God's love, and his 1875 adultery ...

Biography

Beecher was born August 27, 1803, in

East Hampton, New York East Hampton is a Administrative divisions of New York#Town, town in southeastern Suffolk County, New York United States. It is located at the eastern end of the South Shore (Long Island), South Shore of Long Island. It is the easternmost town i ...

. He graduated from

Yale College Yale College is the undergraduate college of Yale University. Founded in 1701, it is the original school of the university. Although other Yale schools were founded as early as 1810, all of Yale was officially known as Yale College until 1887, ...

in 1822. After this, he studied theology at Andover Theological School. In 1826, he became the pastor of Park Street Church in

Boston, Massachusetts Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

. Beecher hoped to inspire more Biblical purity among parishioners and, as a result, disciplinary actions at the Park Street Church were at an all-time high under Beecher's tenure.Baker, Thomas N. ''Sentiment and Celebrity: Nathaniel Parker Willis and the Trials of Literary Fame''. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999: 35. He married Isabella (Porter) Jones in 1829 and together they had eleven children. In 1830, he became the first president of

Illinois College Illinois College is a private liberal arts college in Jacksonville, Illinois. It is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church (USA). It was the second college founded in Illinois but the first to grant a degree (in ...

Jacksonville, Illinois Jacksonville is a city and the county seat of Morgan County, Illinois, United States. The population was 17,616 at the 2020 census, down from 19,446 in 2010. It is home to Illinois College, Illinois School for the Deaf, and the Illinois Sc ...

, where he remained president for 14 years. He was a close friend of Elijah P. Lovejoy and helped organize the first anti-slavery society in Illinois. His wife, Isabella, wrote to his sister,

, to inspire her to write ''Uncle Tom's Cabin''. He returned to Boston in 1844. He was the pastor of Salem Street Church until 1855, when he returned to Illinois and became the pastor of the First Congregational Church of Galesburg. In 1871 he settled in

Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

, where from 1885 to 1889 he was pastor of the Parkville church. He died there on July 28, 1895. He was senior editor of ''The Congregationalist'' (1849—1855), and an associate editor of the ''Christian Union'' from 1870.

Published works

Source: *''Addresses on the Kingdom of God'' (1827) *''Six Sermons on the Nature, Importance, and Means of Eminent Holiness throughout the Church'' (New York, 1835) *''History of the Alton Riots'' (1837) *''Statement of Anti-Slavery Principles'' (1837) *
Narrative of Riots at Alton: in Connection with the Death of Rev. Elijah P. Lovejoy
' (1838) *
Baptism, With Reference to its Import and Modes
' (1849) *
The Conflict of Ages: or, The Great Debate on the Moral Relations of God and Man
' (1853) *
The Papal Conspiracy Exposed, and Protestantism Defended: in the Light of Reason, History & Scripture
' (1855) *
Death Not Life, or, The Destruction of the Wicked (Commonly Called Annihilation) Established and Endless Misery Disproved by a Collection and Explanation of all Passages on Future Punishment
' (1859) *''The Concord of Ages'' (1860) *
Secret Societies: A Discussion of their Character and Claims
' (1867) *''History of Opinions on the Scriptural Doctrine of Future Retribution'' (1878)

References

External links

Edward BeecherBeecher GenealogyBeecher family - Edward BeecherBeecher Family
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Beecher, Edward 1803 births 1895 deaths 19th-century American Congregationalist ministers Phillips Academy alumni Yale College alumni Religious leaders from Brooklyn People from Galesburg, Illinois People from Jacksonville, Illinois People from Boston People from East Hampton (town), New York Beecher family American abolitionists American people of Welsh descent Editors of Christian publications American conspiracy theorists Critics of the Catholic Church Illinois College faculty Activists from Brooklyn Congregationalist abolitionists

Biography

Published works

See also

References

External links