Muhlenberg family

The Muhlenberg family created a United States political, religious, and military dynasty that was primarily based in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, but which had also expanded into the State of Ohio by the early nineteenth century.^[1]

A portrait of Henry Muhlenberg, c. 1770

The German American family descends from Henry Muhlenberg (1711–1787), a German immigrant, influential Lutheran minister, and founder of the first Lutheran synod in America.^[2]

Noted members of the Muhlenberg family include:

• Peter Muhlenberg (1746–1807) minister, Continental Army general, U.S. Congressman, U.S. Senator^[3]
• Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg was the name of several members of the family:
  • Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg (1750–1801), member of the Continental Congress, first Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives^[4]
  • Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg (educator) (1818–1901), president of Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania^[5]
  • Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg (1887–1980) architect, founder of Muhlenberg Greene Architects, U.S. Congressman, and World War I and World War II soldier^[6]
• Gotthilf Henry Ernest Muhlenberg (1753–1815), botanist^[7]
• Maria Salome Muhlenberg (1766–1827), youngest daughter of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg and wife of U..S Congressman Matthias Richards (1758-1830); interred at the Charles Evans Cemetery in Reading, Pennsylvania^[8]
• Henry A. P. Muhlenberg (1782–1844), U.S. Congressman and U.S. minister to Austria^[9]
• Francis Swaine Muhlenberg (1795–1831), U.S. Congressman^[10]
• William Augustus Mühlenberg (1796–1877), Episcopal priest, school founder, and philanthropist^[11]
• Henry Augustus Muhlenberg (1823–1854), U.S. Congressman^[12]
• Frederick Hunter Muhlenberg II (1865–1933), architect^[13]
• Charles Henry Muhlenberg IV (1870–1960), architect^[14]
• Charles Henry Muhlenberg V (1899–1985), architect and member of the Reading, Pennsylvania Planning Commission^[15]

The Muhlenbergs were related to the Hiester family.^[16]

Other descendants

• Matthias Richards (1758–1830), U.S. Congressman^[17]
  • Henry Melchior Muhlenberg Richards (1848–1935), American military officer^[18]
• John Andrew Shulze (1775–1852), Pennsylvania governor^[19]