David Frederick Schaeffer was a Lutheran clergyman of the United States.
Background
His father was a Lutheran clergyman, as were his brothers Frederick Christian, Charles Frederick, and Frederick Solomon, and his nephew Charles William. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1807, studied theology with Justus Henry Christian Helmuth, John Frederick Schmidt, and his father, and was ordained by the Pennsylvania Ministerium in 1812, though he had received his license to preach in 1808.
Education
Graduated from the University Pennsylvania, 1807. Doctor of Divinity, Saint John's College, 1836.
Career
In 1808 he became pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran congregation at Frederick, Maryland, where he remained for the rest of his life. A ministerial challenge in his times was the development of English-language worship as an alternative to the hitherto exclusive use of the German language. Schaeffer was one of the leaders in this effort.
Two other distinguished students were Emanuel Greenwald and Charles Philip Krauth.
He was connected with all the important enterprises of his own church and with many outside of lieutenant In 1836 he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Saint John"s College, Annapolis, Maryland.
Besides a large number of doctrinal and other articles in the Lutheran Intelligencer, he published various addresses and sermons. His reputation was based mostly on his work as a pastor.
They had six children.
Achievements
Connections
Married Elizabeth Krebs, June 28, 1810, 6 children.