Joseph Ripley Chandler

Background

Joseph Ripley Chandler was born on August 22, 1792 in Kingston, Massachusetts, United States. He was the son of Joseph and Saba (Ripley) Chandler.

Education

He was educated in the common schools of Kingston and at the University of Pennsylvania.

Career

He taught in the common schools for a time and in 1815 opened a seminary for young ladies in Philadelphia. This he conducted for a number of years. In 1822 he became editorial writer on the Gazette of the United States, the celebrated Federalist organ started in 1780 by John Fenno. In 1826, together with two others, Chandler purchased the paper (later merged with the North American), editing it until 1847 when he resigned because of ill health. From October 1843 to December 1849, he edited Graham's American Monthly Magazine of Literature, Art and Fashion. The same year he published his Grammar of the English Language for use in the public schools. A Freemason from his early manhood, he had become Grand Master of Pennsylvania when in 1849 he was converted to Catholicism. The same year he was elected as a Clay Whig to Congress where he served three terms. In 1855 he delivered in the House a brilliant speech on "The Temporal Power of the Pope", which was an attack on the movement to deny full rights of citizenship to Roman Catholics. Abhorring religious intolerance, he delivered an equally commendable oration in 1855 at the celebration of the landing of "the Pilgrims of Maryland. " Both speeches were published in book form. In 1858 he was appointed by President Buchanan minister to the Two Sicilies, where he remained for three years. On his return, he became deeply interested in a variety of philanthropic enterprises, especially in the reform of county prison conditions, personally visiting many prisons every year. In 1872, the Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons sent him as representative to the international Congress in London. He visited many European penal establishments and upon his return wrote a most comprehensive report of the Congress, with discriminating criticism and explanatory remarks--all in the space of one hundred pages. In 1847 he published an essay entitled Outline of Penology, written for the Social Science Association of Philadelphia, and in 1875 he brought out a book of fiction called The Beverly Family, or Home Influence of Religion, which was of no literary value but perhaps aided in spreading his philosophy of religious tolerance.

Achievements

• When Girard College was established, he became president of the first board of directors in 1848.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Outlines of Penology (Classic Reprint)

    (Excerpt from Outlines of Penology It was my intention in...)

  • Speech of Mr. J.R. Chandler, of Penn., on the admission of California: delivered in the House of representatives of the United States, March 28, 1850

    (This reproduction was printed from a digital file created...)

  • Chandler's Common School Grammar. a Grammar of the English Language; Adapted to the Schools of America

    ( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)

  • Orations delivered before the Northern Lyceum

    (Orations delivered before the Northern Lyceum of the city...)

  • Address of the Hon.: Joseph R. Chandler (Classic Reprint)

    (Excerpt from Address of the Hon.: Joseph R. Chandler Gra...)

Connections

Father:

Joseph Chandler

Mother:

Saba (Ripley) Chandler