William Dickinson Hawley
Encyclopedia
William Dickinson Hawley (1784-January 23, 1845) was an Episcopal
clergyman who served as Chaplain of the Senate.
. While in New York he also served in the state militia and was court marshaled in 1813 for unofficerlike conduct; he was acquitted of the charges against him. General Bogardus was outraged at the acquittal. Hawley was permitted to resign his commission and thereafter studied for the ministry.
.
He was called to serve St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square (Washington, D.C.), also known as The Church of the Presidents. He was essentially the church's first rector. When invited to serve it was for "six or twelve months" on a trial basis. He in fact served as rector from 1817 to 1845. Hawley was a friend of Andrew Jackson
and Martin Van Buren
. The church's Presidential pew was set apart for that use in December 1817, it was occupied by every president thereafter through Buchanan. In Hawley's rectorship, Presidential worshipers included President John Quincy Adams
who was a regular at afternoon services during his term of office. Hawley conducted the funeral of President William Henry Harrison
in the East Room
of the White House
on April 7, 1841. His successor John Tyler
was an Episcopalian who, with his family, became regular worshipers at St John's Church. Hawley officiated in the White House for the weddings of Samuel L. Gouverneur
to Maria Monroe (the President's youngest daughter) and John Adams II to Mary Catherine Hellen.
Hawley was among those responsible for the establishment of the new Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Fairfax, Virginia
.
Following his death on January 23, 1845, Hawley's remains were buried outside the north wall of the church; the grave was left undisturbed during expansions in 1883, which made the gravesite now within the church.
, Hawley married Wilhelmina Douglass Potts, daughter of John and Eliza Ramsey Potts. Their nine children were: Elizabeth Potts, Phoebe Mary, Thomas Semmes, Wilhelmina, Catherine Ramsay, Peter William Radcliffe, Fanny Lear, Anna Sophia and William H. Hawley.
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
clergyman who served as Chaplain of the Senate.
Early years
William Dickinson Hawley was born in 1784 in Manchester, Vermont, the fifth child of Jabez Hawley and Phoebe Peet. He first studied for the law under Judge Peter Radcliffe in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. While in New York he also served in the state militia and was court marshaled in 1813 for unofficerlike conduct; he was acquitted of the charges against him. General Bogardus was outraged at the acquittal. Hawley was permitted to resign his commission and thereafter studied for the ministry.
Ministry
He was ordained a deacon on November 4, 1814 by New York Bishop James Hobart. His first charge was St. Stephen parish, Culpepper County, Virginia; he was ordained a priest in May 1815 by Bishop of Virginia Richard Channing MooreRichard Channing Moore
The Right Reverend Richard Channing Moore was the second bishop of the Diocese of Virginia .-Life and career:...
.
He was called to serve St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square (Washington, D.C.), also known as The Church of the Presidents. He was essentially the church's first rector. When invited to serve it was for "six or twelve months" on a trial basis. He in fact served as rector from 1817 to 1845. Hawley was a friend of Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
and Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
. The church's Presidential pew was set apart for that use in December 1817, it was occupied by every president thereafter through Buchanan. In Hawley's rectorship, Presidential worshipers included President 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...
who was a regular at afternoon services during his term of office. Hawley conducted the funeral of President William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
in the East Room
East Room
The East Room is the largest room in the White House, the home of the president of the United States. It is used for entertaining, press conferences, ceremonies, and occasionally for a large dinner...
of the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
on April 7, 1841. His successor John Tyler
John Tyler
John Tyler was the tenth President of the United States . A native of Virginia, Tyler served as a state legislator, governor, U.S. representative, and U.S. senator before being elected Vice President . He was the first to succeed to the office of President following the death of a predecessor...
was an Episcopalian who, with his family, became regular worshipers at St John's Church. Hawley officiated in the White House for the weddings of Samuel L. Gouverneur
Samuel L. Gouverneur
Samuel Laurence Gouverneur was a lawyer and civil servant who was both nephew and son-in-law to the fifth President of the United States.-Life:...
to Maria Monroe (the President's youngest daughter) and John Adams II to Mary Catherine Hellen.
Hawley was among those responsible for the establishment of the new Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Fairfax, Virginia
Fairfax, Virginia
The City of Fairfax is an independent city forming an enclave within the confines of Fairfax County, in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Although politically independent of the surrounding county, the City is nevertheless the county seat....
.
Following his death on January 23, 1845, Hawley's remains were buried outside the north wall of the church; the grave was left undisturbed during expansions in 1883, which made the gravesite now within the church.
Personal life
On August 25, 1818, at Christ Church, Alexandria, VirginiaAlexandria, 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...
, Hawley married Wilhelmina Douglass Potts, daughter of John and Eliza Ramsey Potts. Their nine children were: Elizabeth Potts, Phoebe Mary, Thomas Semmes, Wilhelmina, Catherine Ramsay, Peter William Radcliffe, Fanny Lear, Anna Sophia and William H. Hawley.