Edward Woolsey Bacon | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1843-05-05)May 5, 1843 New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | June 7, 1887(1887-06-07) (aged 44) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Yale Divinity School |
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| Father | Leonard Bacon |
| Relatives | George B. Bacon (brother) Leonard Woolsey Bacon (brother) Thomas Rutherford Bacon (brother) |
Edward Woolsey Bacon (May 5, 1843 – June 7, 1887[1]) was an AmericanCongregationalclergyman, as well as a sailor and a soldier.
Bacon was born inNew Haven, Connecticut. He came from a family of preachers: he was the son ofLeonard Bacon[2] and the brother ofLeonard Woolsey Bacon,[3]Thomas Rutherford Bacon ofNew Haven,[4][5] andGeorge B. Bacon,[6][7] all Congregational preachers.
In 1861, eighteen-year-old Bacon left home and served in theUnited States Navy in theCaribbean and on theMississippi River during theAmerican Civil War. He contracteddengue fever and suffered from defective vision; still, after his stint in the Navy he signed up as aninfantry officer and led the29th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry (Colored)—possibly influenced by his father, a staunch abolitionist. His attitudes towardAfrican-Americans was described as "patronizing ... at best," a common view among white officers in charge of colored regiments.[8] He saw severe action inPetersburg, Virginia, and led his troops intoRichmond on April 3, 1865. He was part of the occupying force ofTexas, and in June 1865 was promoted to major of the 117th Colored Infantry Regiment, after which he resigned.[9]
On his return to civil life, Bacon studied theology atYale Divinity School and preached in a few different places before settling in 1877 at the Second Congregational Church inNew London, Connecticut.[9] In 1880, he was a pastor at First Church in New London.[7][10] He was active in theAmerican Missionary Association, serving on the education committee in 1883;[11] he also served on the board of theAmerican Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions and was appointed Assisted Recording Secretary.[12]
In 1885, while on a vacation for his health inCalifornia, he abruptly resigned his ministry in Connecticut, to the surprise of his congregation in New London;The New York Times reported his sudden appearance inSanta Barbara, where a sermon of his in the Congregational church was received with approbation and judged to inspire "new ideas, fresh thoughts, and high resolve."[13]
Health problems caused bytuberculosis continued to plague him. After his return from Santa Barbara he again resumed the ministry but was forced to resign; he took up a position inBerkeley, California and died inSanta Clara County, California.[9] A service was held in New Haven.[14]
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