Reuben Post
Encyclopedia
Reuben Post was a Presbyterian clergyman who served two separate terms as Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives
(1824 and 1831) and also served as Chaplain of the Senate of the United States (1819).
, the son of Roswell and Martha (Mead) Post. He graduated from Middlebury College
, Vermont, in 1814, then studied for the ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary
.
on June 24, 1819. He was immediately installed as the second pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Washington D.C., succeeding Rev. John Brackenridge, D.D. John Quincy Adams
was a regular worshiper there during Post's tenure.
On December 9, 1819, Post was named Chaplain of the Senate. On December 6, 1824 and again on December 5, 1831, Rev. Reuben Post was named Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives.
Post continued at First Presbyterian Church until June 24, 1836 when he was called to serve the Circular Church in Charleston, South Carolina
. His inaugural sermon at the Circular Church was from Acts 10:29.
, on January 7, 1823. Their children were: William, Harriet Lee (Mrs. Henry L. Pinckney
), Emily, Frances, and Richard Henry Lee Post.
; while there a yellow fever
epidemic broke out in Charleston. Post returned at once to care for members of his congregation, and soon fell victim himself and died in the 23rd year of his pastorate there. A memorial tablet was placed in the church and his gravestone is in the church courtyard, along with those of his wife and daughter—they are in the shapes of chess pieces: a king, a queen and a rook.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
(1824 and 1831) and also served as Chaplain of the Senate of the United States (1819).
Early life
Post was born January 7, 1792 in Cornwall, VermontCornwall, Vermont
Cornwall is a town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. It was founded November 3, 1761. The population was 1,136 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, the son of Roswell and Martha (Mead) Post. He graduated from Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
, Vermont, in 1814, then studied for the ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States...
.
Ministry
Post was ordained in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
on June 24, 1819. He was immediately installed as the second pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Washington D.C., succeeding Rev. John Brackenridge, D.D. John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
was a regular worshiper there during Post's tenure.
On December 9, 1819, Post was named Chaplain of the Senate. On December 6, 1824 and again on December 5, 1831, Rev. Reuben Post was named Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives.
Post continued at First Presbyterian Church until June 24, 1836 when he was called to serve the Circular Church in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. His inaugural sermon at the Circular Church was from Acts 10:29.
Personal life
Reuben Post married Harriet Moffitt, a granddaughter of Richard Henry LeeRichard Henry Lee
Richard Henry Lee was an American statesman from Virginia best known for the motion in the Second Continental Congress calling for the colonies' independence from Great Britain. He was a signatory to the Articles of Confederation and his famous resolution of June 1776 led to the United States...
, on January 7, 1823. Their children were: William, Harriet Lee (Mrs. Henry L. Pinckney
Henry L. Pinckney
Henry Laurens Pinckney was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina, and the son of Charles Pinckney....
), Emily, Frances, and Richard Henry Lee Post.
Later years
Post served as pastor of the Circular Church for 23 years. He was also president of the board of supervisors of the high school in Charleston. In 1858, Post took a vacation to his native VermontVermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
; while there a yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
epidemic broke out in Charleston. Post returned at once to care for members of his congregation, and soon fell victim himself and died in the 23rd year of his pastorate there. A memorial tablet was placed in the church and his gravestone is in the church courtyard, along with those of his wife and daughter—they are in the shapes of chess pieces: a king, a queen and a rook.