Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg
Encyclopedia
Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg (1887–1980) was an American military and political leader, and a member of the Muhlenberg
political dynasty.
, in Berks County
on September 25, 1887. He was the son of Dr. William Augustus and Henrietta Muhlenberg. He was the great-great-grandson of Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg and the great-great-grand-nephew of John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg.
He attended Gettysburg College
in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
, and the University of Pennsylvania
in Philadelphia.
During World War I
, he was a captain in the 314th Infantry Regiment serving from September 1917 to March 1919. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
, the Purple Heart
, the Légion d’Honneur and the Croix de Guerre
with Palm for his actions in World War I.
During the interwar period, he worked as an architect
at the firm of Muhlenberg, Yerkes & Muhlenberg. He was elected to the Reading City Council, and became Republican Party chairman for Berks County, Pennsylvania.
He reentered the United States Army
in 1940, where he served in World War II
as a Lieutenant colonel
and then Colonel
in the United States Army Corps of Engineers
.
In 1946, he was elected to the 80th Congress from Pennsylvania
. He served from January 3, 1947 until January 3, 1949; but he lost a reelection bid in 1948, defeated by Democrat George M. Rhodes
.
He was chairman of the State Art Commission (1952–1963) and the County Planning Commission (1958–1972).
He died in Reading, Pennsylvania on January 19, 1980. As a veteran, he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery
.
A collection of awards, military medals, paperwork and other items related to Representative Muhlenberg is held by the Historical Society of Berks County
.
Muhlenberg family
The Muhlenberg family created a United States political, religious, and military dynasty based in the state of Pennsylvania. The family descends from Heinrich Melchior Mühlenberg/Henry Muhlenberg , a German immigrant, noted Lutheran minister, and founder of the Lutheran Church in...
political dynasty.
Biography
Muhlenberg was born in Reading, PennsylvaniaReading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
, in Berks County
Berks County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 373,638 people, 141,570 households, and 98,532 families residing in the county. The population density was 435 people per square mile . There were 150,222 housing units at an average density of 175 per square mile...
on September 25, 1887. He was the son of Dr. William Augustus and Henrietta Muhlenberg. He was the great-great-grandson of Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg and the great-great-grand-nephew of John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg.
He attended Gettysburg College
Gettysburg College
Gettysburg College is a private four-year liberal arts college founded in 1832, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States, adjacent to the famous battlefield. Its athletic teams are nicknamed the Bullets. Gettysburg College has about 2,700 students, with roughly equal numbers of men and women...
in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg is a borough that is the county seat, part of the Gettysburg Battlefield, and the eponym for the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. The town hosts visitors to the Gettysburg National Military Park and has 3 institutions of higher learning: Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg College, and...
, and the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in Philadelphia.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he was a captain in the 314th Infantry Regiment serving from September 1917 to March 1919. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
, the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
, the Légion d’Honneur and the Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
with Palm for his actions in World War I.
During the interwar period, he worked as an architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
at the firm of Muhlenberg, Yerkes & Muhlenberg. He was elected to the Reading City Council, and became Republican Party chairman for Berks County, Pennsylvania.
He reentered the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1940, where he served in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
and then Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
.
In 1946, he was elected to the 80th Congress from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He served from January 3, 1947 until January 3, 1949; but he lost a reelection bid in 1948, defeated by Democrat George M. Rhodes
George M. Rhodes
George M. Rhodes was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.George M. Rhodes was born in Reading, PA. During the First World War he served in the United States Army. He worked as a printer for the Reading Eagle Co. from 1913 to 1927, and business manager for...
.
He was chairman of the State Art Commission (1952–1963) and the County Planning Commission (1958–1972).
He died in Reading, Pennsylvania on January 19, 1980. As a veteran, he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.
A collection of awards, military medals, paperwork and other items related to Representative Muhlenberg is held by the Historical Society of Berks County
Historical Society of Berks County
Founded in 1869, the Historical Society of Berks County is a museum and library located in Reading, Pennsylvania. The Society's mission, as described on its website, is "to focus attention on the unique local history, the vast material culture, and the diverse cultural heritage of Berks County by...
.