Henry A. P. Muhlenberg | |
|---|---|
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| 1stUnited States Minister to the Austrian Empire | |
| In office February 8, 1838 – September 18, 1840 | |
| President | Martin Van Buren |
| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Jenifer |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's9th district | |
| In office 1833–1838 | |
| Preceded by | James Ford Philander Stephens Lewis Dewart |
| Succeeded by | George M. Keim |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's7th district | |
| In office 1829–1833 Serving with Joseph Fry, Jr. | |
| Preceded by | William Addams Joseph Fry, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | David D. Wagener |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Henry Augustus Philip Muhlenberg (1782-05-13)May 13, 1782 Lancaster, Pennsylvania, British America |
| Died | August 11, 1844(1844-08-11) (aged 62) Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Resting place | Charles Evans Cemetery |
| Political party | Jacksonian Democrat Democrat |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Elizabeth (m. 1805, d. 1806) Rebecca Hiester (m. 1808) |
| Relations | Frederick Muhlenberg (uncle) Peter Muhlenberg (uncle) Henry Augustus Muhlenberg III (grandson) Joseph Hiester (father-in-law) |
| Children | 6, includingHenry Augustus Muhlenberg |
| Parent(s) | Gotthilf Henry Ernest Muhlenberg Mary Catherine Hall Muhlenberg |
| Occupation |
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Henry Augustus Philip Muhlenberg (May 13, 1782 – August 11, 1844) was an American political leader and diplomat. He was a member of theMuhlenberg family political dynasty.
Henry Augustus Philip Muhlenberg was born inLancaster, Pennsylvania, on May 13, 1782.[1] Henry was the son of Mary Catherine (née Hall) Muhlenberg andGotthilf Henry Ernest Muhlenberg, a prominent clergyman and botanist.[2]
His paternal grandfather wasHenry Muhlenberg, a German bornLutheran pastor who was sent to North America as a missionary. His paternal grandmother, Anna Maria (née Weiser) Muhlenberg was the daughter of Colonial leader,Conrad Weiser.[3] Among Henry's uncles wereRevolutionary War leaders,Frederick Muhlenberg, later the 1stSpeaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, andPeter Muhlenberg, who served as the 8thVice-President of Pennsylvania underBenjamin Franklin before his election as a U.S. Representative andU.S. Senator from Pennsylvania.[4]
Muhlenberg studied theology and was ordained aLutheran minister in 1802. He served as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church inReading, Pennsylvania, from April 1803 to June 1829.[4]
He was elected a member of theAmerican Antiquarian Society in 1814.[5]
In 1828, Muhlenberg was elected to theUnited States House of Representatives to serve in the21st United States Congress as aJacksonian Democrat.[6] He was reelected, as a Jacksonian, to the22nd through24th United States Congresses. On December 9, 1834, he wrote toJohn M. Read, later theAttorney General of Pennsylvania, aboutJames Buchanan's election to theUnited States Senate, stating: "I rejoice in the election of our friend Buchanan" and that "he will be an honor to the State and of much service to our friends."[7]
Muhlenberg was again reelected to the25th Congress, this time as aDemocrat, and served from March 4, 1829, until his resignation on February 9, 1838, when he was appointed the first United States Minister to theAustrian Empire on February 8, 1838.[8] He presented his credentials inVienna on November 7, 1838, and served until September 18, 1840, when he left his post and was succeeded byDaniel Jenifer.[9]
He ran unsuccessfully forGovernor of Pennsylvania twice in1835 and1838. He was nominated by the Democratic Party a third time in1844, but died before the election took place.[4]
Muhlenberg was twice married. His first marriage was in 1805 to Mary Elizabeth Muhlenberg (1784–1806). Mary died on March 21, 1806, giving birth to a daughter:[3]
After her death, he remarried to Rebecca Hiester (1781–1841) on June 7, 1808.[3] Rebecca was the daughter of Elizabeth (née Witman) Hiester andJoseph Hiester, the 5th governor of Pennsylvania.[2] Together, they were the parents of:[3]
Muhlenberg died in Reading, Pennsylvania, on August 11, 1844, and is interred at theCharles Evans Cemetery.[4]
Through his son Henry, he was the grandfather ofHenry Augustus Muhlenberg III, who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 1892.[3]
{{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help)| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Pennsylvania 1835 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 7th congressional district 1829–1833 1829–1831 alongside:Joseph Fry, Jr. | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 9th congressional district 1833–1838 | Succeeded by |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| New title | U.S. Minister to the Austrian Empire 1838–1840 | Succeeded by |
 Austrian Empire(1838–1867) |  | |
|---|---|---|
 Austro-Hungarian Empire(1867–1917) | ||
 Republic of Austria(1921–1938, 1946–present) | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
