Background
Beecher, Henry Ward was born on June 24, 1813 in Litchfield, Connecticut, United States. Son of Lyman and Roxana (Foote) Beecher.
Beecher, Henry Ward was born on June 24, 1813 in Litchfield, Connecticut, United States. Son of Lyman and Roxana (Foote) Beecher.
Attended Mount Pleasant Classical Institute, Amherst, Massachusetts, 1826-1830. Graduate Amherst College, 1834, Lane Theological Seminary, Cincinnati, 1837.
Ordained by New School Presbytery of Cincinnati, 1838. Pastor church, Lawrenceburg, Indiana until 1839, 2d Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, 1839-1847, Plymouth Congregational Church, Brooklyn, 1847-1887. Gained nat. fame for emotional and florid sermons, his theology never orthodox.
Outspoken advocate of reform. Anti-slavery leader, opposed Compromise of 1850, advocated Northern colonization of Kansas. Campaigned for Fremont and Lincoln, 1856, 60.
Editor Christian Union, 1861-1864, 70-81. Contributor to Independent and New York Ledger in 1860’s and 1870’s. Became object of nat. attention as defendent in Tilton versus Beecher law suit (charged with adultery with Mistress Tilton), 1874, publicly cleared by committee of Plymouth Church Author: Seven Lectures to Young Men, 1844.
Life of Jesus Christ, 1st volunteer, 1871, last volunteer, 1891. Evolution and Religion, 1885. Also numerous sermons published in pamphlet form.
Author: Seven Lectures to Young Men, 1844. Life of Jesus Christ, 1st volunteer, 1871, last volunteer, 1891. Evolution and Religion, 1885.Also numerous sermons published in pamphlet form.
Married Eunice Bullard, August, 3, 1837, 10 children.