Rev. Samuel Magaw, D.D.

DAR# A073072

Rev.Samuel Magaw,D.D. (1735 – 1 December 1812) was a clergyman and educator from Pennsylvania. He was a member of the American Philosophical Society and served as Vice Provost of the University of Pennsylvania (1782–1791).

Born in Pennsylvania, he was a son of William Magaw of Shippensburg. His brothers were Dr. William Magaw and Colonel Robert Magaw, a colonel in the American Revolutionary War. He was member of first class graduated from the College of Philadelphia in 1757, when he received the bachelor's degree; the master's degree was conferred in course in 1760.

He was educated for a tutorship at the suggestion of the said College authorities and later studied divinity, and went to England for orders and ordained as an Anglican priest in 1767. On a return he became a missionary of the Society for Propagation of the Gospel at Dover and Duck Creek, Delaware, and was appointed Rector of St. Paul's Church in Philadelphia, in 1781, and held the office until 1804.

He received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Pennsylvania in 1783. Dr. Magaw was Vice-Provost and Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University from 1782 to 1791 and when the union of the College and University occurred in 1791 he was the only professor in the Faculty of the latter who was not included in the new combined body, his withdrawal, which was voluntary, being due to his desire that his friend, Dr. John Andrews, should be elected to his place. 

He assisted Rev.James Abercrombie, D.D., in founding the Academy of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Philadelphia. He was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society in 1784. Numerous sermons that he preached on special occasions have been published. Bishop White, in his memoirs of the said church, makes complimentary mention of the part Dr. Magaw had taken in 1784 in the organization of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States. Dr. Magaw married Lucia, daughter of Andrew Doz, of Philadelphia. Wikipedia

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Feb 27 2018, 8:18:06 UTC

Samuel Magaw was born in rural Pennsylvania in 1735, probably in Cumberland County. He was an educated man who devoted his life to learning and religion. Magaw graduated from the College of Philadelphia with the Class of 1757, the college's first class. As a young scholar, he sought assistance to meet his tuition, and is the only student in his class known to have attended on a scholarship.

In 1755, the trustees agreed to establish a series of charity schools aimed to foster education among the German immigrants in the area. To answer the immediate need for German masters, Provost William Smith proposed Magaw take charge of the school after studying German for a few months. In return, the trustees of the German Society agreed to pay his lodging and board. Smith also arranged for the Lutheran Minister of Philadelphia, the Reverend Peter Brunnholtz, to board Magaw in his house, watch over his morals and assist him in making further progress in the German language. Thus, Magaw was able to continue his education at the College with the help of this scholarship.

At the suggestion of the college authorities, Magaw was educated for a tutorship. Magaw, raised a Presbyterian, studied divinity and then traveled to England in 1767 for ordination as an Episcopal priest. When Magaw returned to America he served first in Delaware as a missionary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. He then to became Rector of Philadelphia's St. Paul's church from 1781 to 1804. Magaw was Vice-Provost and Professor of Moral Philosophy at the College from 1782 to 1791. Later in life, he helped his friend, James Abercrombie, found the Academy of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Philadelphia.

Magaw died in Philadelphia on Dec. 1, 1812. His first wife was Sarah Vining, who he married in 1771 and who died in 1773. He later married Lucia Bell who died in 1790; their son Algernon Sydney Magaw was a student in the Academy of Philadelphia and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1794. His third and final wife was Martha Doz, daughter of Andrew Doz of Philadelphia. University of Pennsylvania

Letter to George Washington