Samuel McPherson Janney

Background

Janney was born on January 11, 1801, in Loudoun County, Virginia, the son of Abijah Janney, whose ancestors had been identified with the Society of Friends since its beginnings, and his wife Jane (McPherson), also of Quaker stock.

Education

At fourteen Janney left school to work in the counting-house of an uncle at Alexandria, but continued to seek an education; he attended night schools, organized a local scientific society, and wrote regularly for a literary club, meanwhile reading avidly and devoting himself to private study.

Career

In 1830 Janney became partner in a cotton factory at Occoquan. This never-flourishing venture was abandoned in 1839 and he returned to Loudoun County to open a boarding school for girls. Fifteen years later, having paid the debts accruing from his business failure, he retired, to devote himself to literature and philanthropy. For almost half a century preceding his death he was an eloquent, liberal, and devout minister in the Hicksite division of his sect, influential in its councils, tirelessly active in evangelical work. At the same time, his humanity knew neither creed nor color. He labored to found Sunday schools and day schools for negro children, was among the first to advocate the abolition of slavery within the District of Columbia, and zealously supported emancipation and colonization societies, on one occasion his opinions concerning slavery causing his presentment by a Loudoun County grand jury. With the dual aim of enlightening the white electorate and of furthering anti-slavery sentiment through education, he was earnest in promoting free public schools for Virginia, although his efforts bore little immediate fruit. During the Civil War he supported the Union, but ministered at his home to the wounded of both armies and aided his afflicted neighbors, regardless of their sympathies. His early interest in the Indians led him to serve, at some sacrifice, as superintendent of Indian affairs in the Northern Superintendency (May 1869 - September 1871) until enfeebled health caused him to resign. He had contributed verses to several periodicals before the appearance of his first volume, The Last of the Lenape, and Other Poems, in 1839, and subsequently published others, but his poetical work was mostly undistinguished: his verses, although decorous, correct, and varied, lack wings. His reputation as an author deservedly rests on his prose works. His biographies, The Life of William Penn (1852) and The Life of George Fox (1853), went through repeated editions, and are still esteemed for their scholarship and their valuable material; in them, as well as in his four-volume History of the Religious Society of Friends, from its Rise to the Year 1828 (1860-1867), his simple, direct style, careful study, and abundant quotation from original sources show to advantage. His remaining publications, most of them brief, deal with various doctrinal or sociological subjects, but especial mention should be made of his autobiographical Memoirs (1881), which furnishes a clear picture of the author's gentle, modest, and charitable nature. Janney died on April 30, 1880, in Loudoun County, Virginia.

Achievements

• Janney is most noted for his views, published into the books.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Summary of Christian Doctrines as Held by the Religious Society of Friends (Classic Reprint)

    (Excerpt from Summary of Christian Doctrines as Held by th...)

  • The Last of the Lenapé

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

  • Conversations on Religious Subjects, and Familiar Dialogues

    (This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curat...)

  • Essays on Practical Piety and Divine Grace

    (This is a reproduction of a classic text optimised for ki...)

  • History of the Religious Society of Friends from Its Rise to the Year 1828

    (This is a reproduction of a classic text optimised for ki...)

Connections

On March 9, 1826, Janney married a third cousin, Elizabeth Janney.

Father:

Abijah Janney

Mother:

Jane McPherson

Spouse:

Elizabeth Janney

References

• Friends and the Indians: 1655-1917 (Classic Reprint)
• Poets of Virginia (Classic Reprint)