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]

Thumb — 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]

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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]

[1]
Hess, Stephen. America's Political Dynasties, pp. 146, 158-162, 637, 659-660, 688, 697, 718, 722-723, 731. London and New York: Routledge, 2017.
[2]
Kennedy, Will P. "Capital Sidelights." Washington, D.C.: The Sunday Star, October 11, 1942, p. 27 (subscription required).
[3]
Horn, Joshua. "Peter Muhlenberg: The Pastor Turned Soldier," in Journal of the American Revolution, November 9, 2015.
[4]
Minardi, Lisa. "Frederick Muhlenberg," in Immigrant Entrepreneurship: German-American Business Biographies, 1720 to the Present, vol. 1, edited by Marianne S. Wokeck. German Historical Institute, retrieved online October 27, 2022.
[5]
Ochsenford, Solomon Erb. Muhlenberg College. A quarter-centennial memorial volume, being a history of the College and a record of its men, p. 171. Allentown, Pennsylvania: Muhlenberg College, 1892.
[6]
Tatman, Sandra L. "Muhlenberg, Frederick Augustus," in Philadelphia Architects and Buildings. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Athenaeum of Philadelphia, retrieved online October 27, 2022.
[7]
"Gotthilf Henrich Ernst Muhlenberg," in "Henry Ernest Muhlenberg papers." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, retrieved online October 28, 2022.
[8]
"Mrs. Maria Salome Richards" (obituary). Reading, Pennsylvania: Berks and Schuylkill Journal, March 17, 1827, p. 3.
[9]
"Biographical Memoir of the Late Henry A. Muhlenberg," in The United States Democratic Review, vol. 16, issue 79, p. 73. J.& H.G. Langley, etc., January 1845.
[10]
"Muhlenberg, Francis Swaine" (biography), in Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Washington, D.C.: United States Congress, retrieved online October 27, 2022.
[11]
Woolverton, John Frederic. "William Augustus Muhlenberg and the Founding of St. Paul's College," in Historical Magazine of the Protestant Episcopal Church, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 192-216. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Historical Society of the Episcopal Church, 1960.
[12]
"Muhlenberg, Henry Augustus" (biography), in Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Washington, D.C.: United States Congress, retrieved online October 27, 2022.
[13]
"Frederick H. Muhlenberg Dies Suddenly in Reading." Allentown, Pennsylvania: The Morning Call, June 19, 1933.
[14]
"Charles H. Muhlenberg, Jr.," in the photo included with "Garden Spot High Is Dedicated." Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Daily Intelligencer Journal, February 27, 1920, p. 20 (subscription required).
[15]
"Architect, ex-planner for Reading dies at 85" (obituary). Reading, Pennsylvania: The Reading Eagle, March 9, 1985, p. 15.
[16]
Hess, America's Political Dynasties, pp. 146, 158-162, 637, 659-660, 688, 697, 722-723, 731.
[17]
"Richards, Matthias," in Biographical Directory of the United States Congress." Washington, D.C.: United States Congress, retrieved online October 28, 2022.
[18]
Wallace, Paul A. W. The Muhlenbergs of Pennsylvania, p. 245. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1950.
[19]
"Governor John Andrew Schulze" (biography). Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, retrieved online October 27, 2022.