Hon. Henry Augustus Philip Muhlenberg

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. He married twice to Hiester sisters. Firty Mary.. then Rebecca. (see Early op. cit.

Early life

Henry Augustus Philip Muhlenberg was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on May 13, 1782.[1] Henry was the son of Mary Catherine (née Hall) Muhlenberg and Gotthilf Henry Ernest Muhlenberg, a prominent clergyman and botanist.[2]

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.[3] 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.[4]

Career

Henry studied theology under Kunze at NEw York 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.[4]

He was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1814.[5]

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.[6] 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."[7]

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.[8] 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.[9]

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.[4]

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:[3]

Mary Elizabeth Muhlenberg (1806–1838), who married the Rev. Ehrgott Jonathan Deininger (1801–1881).[3] After her death, he remarried to Rebecca Hiester (1781–1841) on June 7, 1808.[3] Rebecca was the daughter of Elizabeth (née Witman) Hiester and Joseph Hiester, the 5th governor of Pennsylvania.[2] Together, they were the parents of:[3]

• Emma Elizabeth Muhlenberg, who died in infancy.[3]
• 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.[3]
• Rosa Catharine Muhlenberg (1821–1867), who married Gustavus Anthony Nicolls (1817–1886).[3]
• Henry Augustus Muhlenberg (1823–1854), who was elected to Congress and married his cousin, Ann Hall Muhlenberg.[3]

Muhlenberg died in Reading, Pennsylvania on August 11, 1844 and is interred at the Charles Evans Cemetery.[4]

Descendants

Through his son Henry, he was the grandfather of Henry Augustus Muhlenberg III, who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 1892.[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_A._P._Muhlenberg

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US Congressman. Attending the local schools, he studied theology and was ordained as a Lutheran minister in 1802. He was the pastor of the Trinity Lutheran Church from 1803 through 1829. He decided in 1828 to enter politics and was elected as a Jacksonian Democrat to the US Congress. He continued as a Congressman until President Jackson appointed him Minister of Austria in 1838. He ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1835 and 1837 and was nominated by the Democratic Party for the third time in1844, but died before the election was held. (bio by: Tom Todd)
[http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=12478914]

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Aug 11 2019, 1:40:04 UTC
• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Mar 20 2021, 18:57:33 UTC

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US Congressman. Attending the local schools, he studied theology and was ordained as a Lutheran minister in 1802. He was the pastor of the Trinity Lutheran Church from 1803 through 1829. He decided in 1828 to enter politics and was elected as a Jacksonian Democrat to the US Congress. He continued as a Congressman until President Jackson appointed him Minister of Austria in 1838. He ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1835 and 1837 and was nominated by the Democratic Party for the third time in1844, but died before the election was held.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Aug 11 2019, 2:30:14 UTC

~• sources

• Lutheran Ministers of Berks County ; By John William Early, page 14