Edward Beecher D.D. (August 27, 1803 – July 28, 1895) was an American

theologian Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...

, the son of

Lyman Beecher Lyman Beecher (October 12, 1775 – January 10, 1863) was a Presbyterian minister, and the father of 13 children, many of whom became noted figures, including Harriet Beecher Stowe, Henry Ward Beecher, Charles Beecher, Edward Beecher, Isabella Bee ...

and the brother of

Harriet Beecher Stowe Harriet Elisabeth Beecher Stowe (; June 14, 1811 – July 1, 1896) was an American author and abolitionist. She came from the religious Beecher family and became best known for her novel ''Uncle Tom's Cabin'' (1852), which depicts the harsh ...

and

Henry Ward Beecher Henry Ward Beecher (June 24, 1813 – March 8, 1887) was an American Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, and speaker, known for his support of the Abolitionism, abolition of slavery, his emphasis on God's love, and his 1875 adultery ...

Biography

Beecher was born August 27, 1803, in

East Hampton, New York The Town of East Hampton is located in southeastern Suffolk County, New York, at the eastern end of the South Shore of Long Island. It is the easternmost town in the state of New York. At the time of the 2020 United States census, it had a total ...

. He graduated from

Yale College Yale College is the undergraduate college of Yale University. Founded in 1701, it is the original school of the university. Although other Yale schools were founded as early as 1810, all of Yale was officially known as Yale College until 1887, ...

in 1822. After this, he studied theology at Andover Theological School. In 1826, he became the pastor of

Park Street Church Park Street Church, founded in 1804, is a historic and active evangelical congregational megachurch in Downtown Boston, Massachusetts. The Park Street Church is a member of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference. Typical attendance a ...

in Boston, Massachusetts. He married Isabella (Porter) Jones in 1829 and together they had eleven children. In 1830, he became the first president of

Illinois College Illinois College is a private liberal arts college in Jacksonville, Illinois. It is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church (USA). It was the second college founded in Illinois, but the first to grant a degree ( ...

Jacksonville, Illinois Jacksonville is a city in Morgan County, Illinois, Morgan County, Illinois, United States. The population was 19,446 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Morgan County. It is home to Illinois College, Illinois School for the Deaf, and the ...

, where he remained president for 14 years. He was a close friend of

Elijah P. Lovejoy Elijah Parish Lovejoy (November 9, 1802 – November 7, 1837) was an American Presbyterianism, Presbyterian Minister (Christianity), minister, journalist, Editing, newspaper editor, and Abolitionism in the United States, abolitionist. Followin ...

and helped organize the first anti-slavery society in Illinois. His wife, Isabella, wrote to his sister,

, to inspire her to write "Uncle Tom's Cabin". He returned to Boston in 1844. He was the pastor of Salem Street Church until 1855, when he returned to Illinois and became the pastor of the First Congregational Church of Galesburg. In 1871 he settled in

Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

, where from 1885 to 1889 he was pastor of the Parkville church. He died there on July 28, 1895. He was senior editor of ''The Congregationalist'' (1849—1855), and an associate editor of the ''Christian Union'' from 1870.

Published works

*''Addresses on the Kingdom of God'' (1827) *''Six Sermons on the Nature, Importance, and Means of Eminent Holiness throughout the Church'' (New York, 1835) *''History of the Alton Riots'' (1837) *''Statement of Anti-Slavery Principles'' (1837) *
Narrative of Riots at Alton: in Connection with the Death of Rev. Elijah P. Lovejoy
(1838) *
Baptism, With Reference to its Import and Modes
' (1849) *
The Conflict of Ages: or, The Great Debate on the Moral Relations of God and Man
' (1853) *
The Papal Conspiracy Exposed, and Protestantism Defended: in the Light of Reason, History & Scripture
' (1855) *
Death Not Life, or, The Destruction of the Wicked (Commonly Called Annihilation) Established and Endless Misery Disproved by a Collection and Explanation of all Passages on Future Punishment
' (1859) *''The Concord of Ages'' (1860) *
Secret Societies: A Discussion of their Character and Claims
' (1867) *''History of Opinions on the Scriptural Doctrine of Future Retribution'' (1878)

Notes

External links

Edward BeecherBeecher GenealogyBeecher family - Edward BeecherBeecher Family
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Beecher, Edward 1803 births 1895 deaths 19th-century Congregationalist ministers Phillips Academy alumni Yale College alumni People from Brooklyn People from Galesburg, Illinois People from Jacksonville, Illinois People from Boston People from East Hampton (town), New York Beecher family American abolitionists American Congregationalist ministers American people of Welsh descent Editors of Christian publications American conspiracy theorists Critics of the Catholic Church Illinois College faculty Activists from New York (state) Congregationalist abolitionists 19th-century American clergy

Biography

Published works

See also

Notes

External links