John Brackenridge (clergyman)
Encyclopedia
John Brackenridge, D.D.
( – May 2, 1844) was a Presbyterian clergyman who served as Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives
(from 1822 to 1823) and Chaplain of the United States Senate
(from 1811 to 1814).
, the son of Scots-Irish Presbyterians Robert and Margaret (née Douglas) Brackenridge. Thereafter the family moved to the Juniata Valley, Hopewell, now Penn Township in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
. In 1779 in what came to be known as the “Brackenridge Massacre”, his father and an older sister named Nancy were killed during an Indian raid. John and his brother James escaped death because they had been in the wilds hunting for a lost horse, but each was given to other families to be raised. The family who took John moved almost at once to the part of Virginia which became Washington D.C. and it was not until 1839, that an overheard conversation resulted in the two brothers being reunited after 60 years time.
Brackenridge’s formal education included studies at Dickinson College
in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
. Brackenridge was ordained by the Presbytery of Baltimore in 1795 and thereafter, he was charged to serve in the new federal capital at Washington, D.C. The initial congregation he served was known as St. Andrew’s Church.
Brackenridge was sent by the Presbytery of Baltimore to serve as a missionary in the area around the navy yard in Washington D.C., a post he filled between 1811 and 1819, forming what became the First Presbyterian Church of Washington D.C.
That congregation’s building was left intact when the hill on which the Capitol stands was created using fill. So the foundation of the Capitol is, literally, First Presbyterian Church of Washington, D.C.
While serving there, Brackenridge was elected to serve as Chaplain of the Senate, and held that position from 1811 to 1814. Brackenridge was one of fourteen Presbyterian ministers to serve as Chaplain of the Senate . A sermon he preached in the House chambers in mid-summer 1814 accurately predicted that the British would reach and burn the federal buildings in the new capital city.
On May 11, 1824, the new Presbytery of the District of Columbia first met in Alexandria, Virginia
. Previously part of the Presbytery of Baltimore, the new presbytery had church membership of 277 and the first moderator was the reverend John Brackenridge, who at that time was Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives. He went on to serve as pastor to the Bladensburg (MD) Presbyterian Church for more than 40 years, and supervised the creation of the Rockville Academy.
The son, John A. Brackenridge (1800–1862), was an attorney who practiced in Indiana
and was famous for his oratory; he lent the young Abraham Lincoln
books and Lincoln traveled far to hear his closing arguments.
The Brackenridge family lived on the site of the Soldier’s Home in Washington D.C.; he sold the 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of land to William Wilson Corcoran
who then sold it to the United States Government. Brackenridge died May 2, 1844, and was buried beside his wife on the grounds of the Soldier’s Home. The inscription on the tombstone reads: “In memory of Rev. John Brackenridge, who died May 2, 1844, he was the first Presbyterian minister in Washington. Fully supplied the congregation of Bladensburg for 40 years. The Rockville Academy was reared under his superintendence. He sleeps after a prudent, useful, pious life beside his wife. The Orphans Asylum of Washington her unassuming labor of love.”
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
( – May 2, 1844) was a Presbyterian clergyman who served as Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives
Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives
The election of William Linn as Chaplain of the House on May 1, 1789, continued the tradition established by the Continental Congresses of each day's proceedings opening with a prayer by a chaplain. The early Chaplains alternated duties with their Senate counterparts on a weekly basis, covering the...
(from 1822 to 1823) and Chaplain of the United States Senate
Chaplain of the United States Senate
The Chaplain of the United States Senate opens each session of the United States Senate with a prayer, and provides and coordinates religious programs and pastoral care support for Senators, their staffs, and their families. The Chaplain is appointed by a majority vote of the members of the Senate...
(from 1811 to 1814).
Early years
Brackenridge was born in Cumberland County, PennsylvaniaCumberland County, Pennsylvania
Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 235,406.-History:...
, the son of Scots-Irish Presbyterians Robert and Margaret (née Douglas) Brackenridge. Thereafter the family moved to the Juniata Valley, Hopewell, now Penn Township in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
Huntingdon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, its population was 45,913.Huntingdon County was created on September 20, 1787, from part of Bedford County. Its county seat is Huntingdon.-Geography:According to the U.S...
. In 1779 in what came to be known as the “Brackenridge Massacre”, his father and an older sister named Nancy were killed during an Indian raid. John and his brother James escaped death because they had been in the wilds hunting for a lost horse, but each was given to other families to be raised. The family who took John moved almost at once to the part of Virginia which became Washington D.C. and it was not until 1839, that an overheard conversation resulted in the two brothers being reunited after 60 years time.
Brackenridge’s formal education included studies at Dickinson College
Dickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle is a borough in and the county seat of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The name is traditionally pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable. Carlisle is located within the Cumberland Valley, a highly productive agricultural region. As of the 2010 census, the borough...
. Brackenridge was ordained by the Presbytery of Baltimore in 1795 and thereafter, he was charged to serve in the new federal capital at Washington, D.C. The initial congregation he served was known as St. Andrew’s Church.
Ministry
John Brackenridge has the distinction of having been the first pastor of the Presbyterian Church to serve in the new Federal City of Washington, D.C.Brackenridge was sent by the Presbytery of Baltimore to serve as a missionary in the area around the navy yard in Washington D.C., a post he filled between 1811 and 1819, forming what became the First Presbyterian Church of Washington D.C.
That congregation’s building was left intact when the hill on which the Capitol stands was created using fill. So the foundation of the Capitol is, literally, First Presbyterian Church of Washington, D.C.
While serving there, Brackenridge was elected to serve as Chaplain of the Senate, and held that position from 1811 to 1814. Brackenridge was one of fourteen Presbyterian ministers to serve as Chaplain of the Senate . A sermon he preached in the House chambers in mid-summer 1814 accurately predicted that the British would reach and burn the federal buildings in the new capital city.
On May 11, 1824, the new Presbytery of the District of Columbia first met in Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
. Previously part of the Presbytery of Baltimore, the new presbytery had church membership of 277 and the first moderator was the reverend John Brackenridge, who at that time was Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives. He went on to serve as pastor to the Bladensburg (MD) Presbyterian Church for more than 40 years, and supervised the creation of the Rockville Academy.
Personal life
Brackenridge was married to (Elisa) Eleanor White, the daughter of Zachariah and Mary Beall White of Maryland. Three sons and two daughters were born to them, including a daughter, Mary, who pre-deceased them, their other children were James Madison Brackenridge, John Adams Brackenridge, Thomas Jefferson Brackenridge and Attilia Ann Brackenridge (who married Edward G. Handy).The son, John A. Brackenridge (1800–1862), was an attorney who practiced in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and was famous for his oratory; he lent the young Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
books and Lincoln traveled far to hear his closing arguments.
The Brackenridge family lived on the site of the Soldier’s Home in Washington D.C.; he sold the 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of land to William Wilson Corcoran
William Wilson Corcoran
William Wilson Corcoran was an American banker, philanthropist, and art collector.-Early life:Corcoran was born in Georgetown in the District of Columbia, the son of a well-to-do father whom the electors of Georgetown twice chose as mayor. His father, Thomas Corcoran, came to Georgetown in 1788...
who then sold it to the United States Government. Brackenridge died May 2, 1844, and was buried beside his wife on the grounds of the Soldier’s Home. The inscription on the tombstone reads: “In memory of Rev. John Brackenridge, who died May 2, 1844, he was the first Presbyterian minister in Washington. Fully supplied the congregation of Bladensburg for 40 years. The Rockville Academy was reared under his superintendence. He sleeps after a prudent, useful, pious life beside his wife. The Orphans Asylum of Washington her unassuming labor of love.”