Henry A. P. Muhlenberg

Template:Short description Template:Other people Template:Infobox officeholder Henry Augustus Philip Muhlenberg (May 13, 1782 – August 11, 1844) was an American political leader and diplomat. He was a member of the Muhlenberg family political dynasty.

Early life

Henry Augustus Philip Muhlenberg was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on May 13, 1782.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Henry was the son of Mary Catherine (née Hall) Muhlenberg and Gotthilf Henry Ernest Muhlenberg, a prominent clergyman and botanist.<ref name="PGS1907"/>

His paternal grandfather was Henry Muhlenberg, a German born Lutheran pastor who was sent to North America as a missionary. His paternal grandmother, Anna Maria (née Weiser) Muhlenberg was the daughter of Colonial leader, Conrad Weiser.<ref name="Weiser1960"/> Among Henry's uncles were Revolutionary War leaders, Frederick Muhlenberg, later the 1st Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and Peter Muhlenberg, who served as the 8th Vice-President of Pennsylvania under Benjamin Franklin before his election as a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania.<ref name="HAPMbioguide"/>

Career

Muhlenberg studied theology and was ordained a Lutheran minister in 1802. He served as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Reading, Pennsylvania, from April 1803 to June 1829.<ref name="HAPMbioguide"/>

He was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1814.<ref>American Antiquarian Society Members Directory</ref>

Political career

In 1828, Muhlenberg was elected to the United States House of Representatives to serve in the 21st United States Congress as a Jacksonian Democrat.<ref name="Cheathem2007">Template:Cite book</ref> He was reelected, as a Jacksonian, to the 22nd through 24th United States Congresses. On December 9, 1834, he wrote to John M. Read, later the Attorney General of Pennsylvania, about James Buchanan's election to the United States Senate, stating: "I rejoice in the election of our friend Buchanan" and that "he will be an honor to the State and of much service to our friends."<ref name="dickinson">Template:Cite web</ref>

Muhlenberg was again reelected to the 25th Congress, this time as a Democrat, and served from March 4, 1829, until his resignation on February 9, 1838, when he was appointed the first United States Minister to the Austrian Empire on February 8, 1838.<ref name="Louden2016">Template:Cite book</ref> He presented his credentials in Vienna on November 7, 1838, and served until September 18, 1840, when he left his post and was succeeded by Daniel Jenifer.<ref name="HAPMstate">Template:Cite web</ref>

He ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Pennsylvania twice in 1835 and 1838. He was nominated by the Democratic Party a third time in 1844, but died before the election took place.<ref name="HAPMbioguide"/>

Personal life

Muhlenberg was twice married. His first marriage was in 1805 to Mary Elizabeth Muhlenberg (1784–1806). Mary died on March 21, 1806, giving birth to a daughter:<ref name="Weiser1960"/>

• Mary Elizabeth Muhlenberg (1806–1838), who married the Rev. Ehrgott Jonathan Deininger (1801–1881).<ref name="Weiser1960">Template:Cite book</ref>

After her death, he remarried to Rebecca Hiester (1781–1841) on June 7, 1808.<ref name="Weiser1960"/> Rebecca was the daughter of Elizabeth (née Witman) Hiester and Joseph Hiester, the 5th governor of Pennsylvania.<ref name="PGS1907">Template:Cite book</ref> Together, they were the parents of:<ref name="Weiser1960"/>

• Emma Elizabeth Muhlenberg, who died in infancy.<ref name="Weiser1960"/>
• Hiester Henry Muhlenberg (1812–1886), who married Amelia Howard (1817–1852). After her death, he married Katharine Spang Hunter (1835–1913).
• Emma Elizabeth Muhlenberg (1817–1833), who died unmarried.<ref name="Weiser1960"/>
• Rosa Catharine Muhlenberg (1821–1867), who married Gustavus Anthony Nicolls (1817–1886).<ref name="Weiser1960"/>
• Henry Augustus Muhlenberg (1823–1854), who was elected to Congress and married his cousin, Ann Hall Muhlenberg.<ref name="Weiser1960"/>

Muhlenberg died in Reading, Pennsylvania, on August 11, 1844, and is interred at the Charles Evans Cemetery.<ref name="HAPMbioguide">Template:Cite web</ref>

Descendants

Through his son Henry, he was the grandfather of Henry Augustus Muhlenberg III, who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 1892.<ref name="Weiser1960"/>

External links

• Template:Cite EB1911