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American minister and politician (1750–1801) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg (/ˈmjuːlɪnbɜːrɡ/; January 1, 1750 – June 4, 1801) was an American minister and politician who was the first Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and the first Dean of the United States House of Representatives. A member of the Federalist Party, he was delegate to the Pennsylvania state constitutional convention and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania and a Lutheran pastor by profession, Muhlenberg was born in Trappe, Pennsylvania. His home, known as The Speaker's House, is now a museum and is currently undergoing restoration to restore its appearance during Muhlenberg's occupancy.[2]
Frederick Muhlenberg | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 1st Speaker of the United States House of Representatives | |
| In office December 2, 1793 – March 4, 1795 | |
| Preceded by | Jonathan Trumbull Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Jonathan Dayton |
| In office April 1, 1789 – March 4, 1791 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Jonathan Trumbull Jr. |
| Dean of the United States House of Representatives | |
| In office March 4, 1789 – March 4, 1797 | |
| Preceded by | Title established |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Hartley George Thatcher |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania | |
| In office March 4, 1789 – March 4, 1797 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Blair McClenachan (2nd) |
| Constituency | At-large (1789–1791) 2nd district (1791–1793) At-large (1793–1795) 2nd district (1795–1797) |
| Delegate from Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress | |
| In office 1779–1780 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg January 1, 1750 Trappe, Pennsylvania, British America |
| Died | June 4, 1801 (aged 51) Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Resting place | Woodward Hill Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican (1795–1801) Anti-Administration (1791–1795) Pro-Administration (before 1791) |
| Relatives | Muhlenberg family |
| Alma mater | University of Halle |
| Profession | Minister of religion |
| Signature |  |
| Official name | Frederick A. C. Muhlenberg (1750–1801) |
| Type | Roadside |
| Designated | April 12, 2008[1] |
| Location | 151 W Main St., Trappe, across from strip mall |
Muhlenberg was born in Trappe, Pennsylvania, the son of Anna Maria (Weiser) and Heinrich Melchior Mühlenberg. His father, an immigrant from Germany, was considered the founder of the Lutheran Church in North America. His maternal grandfather was Pennsylvania German colonial leader Conrad Weiser. His brother, Peter, was a general in the Continental Army and his brother Gotthilf Heinrich Ernst was a botanist.[3]
In 1763, together with his brothers John Peter Gabriel and Gotthilf Henry Ernst, he attended the Latina at the Franckesche Stiftungen[4] in Halle, Germany. In 1769, he attended the University of Halle, where he studied theology.
On October 25, 1770, Muhlenberg was ordained by the Pennsylvania Ministerium as a minister of the Lutheran Church. He preached in Stouchsburg, Pennsylvania, and Lebanon, Pennsylvania, from 1770 to 1774, and in New York City from 1774 to 1776. When the British Army entered New York at the onset of the American Revolutionary War, he felt obligated to leave, and returned to Pennsylvania. He moved to New Hanover Township, and was a pastor there and in Oley and New Goshenhoppen until August 1779.[5]
Muhlenberg was a member of the Continental Congress in 1779 and 1780, and served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1780 to 1783. He was elected its speaker on November 3, 1780.[6] He was a delegate to and chairman of the Pennsylvania state constitutional convention in 1787 called to ratify the Federal Constitution. He was the first signer of the Bill of Rights.[7]
He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania in the first and the three succeeding United States Congresses (March 4, 1789 – March 4, 1797). Muhlenberg was also the first Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. In August 1789, he cast the deciding vote for the location of the nation's new capital. He did not seek renomination as speaker in 1796. On April 29, 1796, as chairman of the Committee of the Whole, he cast the deciding vote for the laws necessary to carry out the Jay Treaty.[8]
In 1794, during Muhlenberg's second tenure as Speaker, the House voted 42–41 against a proposal to translate some of the laws into German. Muhlenberg, who himself abstained from the vote, commented later that "the faster the Germans become Americans, the better it will be."[9] Despite not having voted against the bill, a legend, the Muhlenberg Legend, developed in which he was responsible for prohibiting German as an official language of the United States.[9]
According to another legend, Muhlenberg also suggested that the title of the President of the United States should be "Mr. President," instead of "His High Mightiness" or "His Elected Majesty," as John Adams had suggested.[10]
Muhlenberg was president of the council of censors of Pennsylvania, and was appointed receiver general of the Pennsylvania Land Office on January 8, 1800, serving until his death in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on June 4, 1801.[11]
On October 15, 1771, Muhlenberg married Catherine Schaeffer, the daughter of wealthy Philadelphia sugar refiner David Schaeffer. They had seven children.[12]
On June 4, 1801, Muhlenberg died in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, at age 51. He was interred in Woodward Hill Cemetery in Lancaster.[6]
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