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William Henry Milburn

William Henry Milburn (September 26, 1823 – April 11, 1903) was a blind Methodist clergyman. A friend of notables including Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, he was Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives in 1845 and Chaplain of the Senate fifty years later (1893 until his death in 1903).[1]

Reverend William Henry Milburn by J Gurney & Son photographists at 707 Broadway, NYC c.1863
The Rev. William Henry Milburn

Early life edit

William Henry Milburn was born September 26, 1823, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Nicholas and Ann (Wyeth) Milburn, who were devout Methodists and often hosted well-known Methodist preachers in their home. His father was a prosperous merchant, until reverses in the economy led to the failure of his business. The family relocated to Jacksonville, Illinois, then still "the West" in 1838. There, Milburn was raised.[2]

Before their move to Philadelphia, Milburn's left eye had been injured by a piece of glass thrown by a playmate. Kept in a dark room for over a year to attempt to aid healing, the eye was permanently blinded when doctors tried to remove the callus that had formed over it, using some kind of caustic. The impairment of that eye led to a similar impairment in the other, causing him to be partially blind in his youth, and totally blind by his forties. Milburn recounts this incident in his autobiography.[3]

Milburn was chiefly self-educated, though he had tutors in Latin and Greek, until enrolling Illinois College from which he was unable to graduate due to his waning eyesight. At the urging of minister friends including Peter Cartwright, Milburn became a Methodist circuit rider in 1843.[2]

Ministry edit

 
William H. Milburn later in life, from an 1896 publication.

His early ministry consisted of hundreds of miles of travel on horseback each month, throughout the Midwest. On a steamboat in the Ohio he delivered a sermon in which he rebuked Congressmen on board for their intemperate behavior. This led to his name being proposed for Chaplain of the House of Representatives, a post to which he was elected in 1845 and reelected in 1853.[4]

Thereafter, in succession Milburn served Methodist churches in Montgomery, Alabama and Mobile, Alabama, where, having been tried for heresy, he spent several years serving a free church. After serving his second term as House Chaplain (1853) Milburn moved to New York City where he was pastor of the Pacific Street Methodist Church, and then the John Street Methodist Church, while also engaged in a life of lecturing. He was elected for two more terms as Chaplain of the House in 1885 and in 1887. He preached and lectured throughout the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Ireland. Among his published works, his autobiography, Ten Years of Preacher-Life remains a vivid work of non-fiction and is readily available on line.[2]

Milburn died in Santa Barbara, California, on April 11, 1903.[3]

Personal life edit

On August 13, 1843, in Baltimore, Maryland, Milburn was married to Cornelia Wilmot. She was the author of Poems of Faith and Affection. Their four children (including a daughter Fanny), all died young. He adopted two children of Rev John Gemley.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, edited by Rossiter Johnson & John Howard Brown
  2. ^ a b c Ten Years of Preacher-Life: Chapters From An Autobiography, by William Henry Milburn
  3. ^ a b New York Times obituary, April 11, 1903
  4. ^ Lamb's Biographical Dictionary of the United States, Volume 5, by John Howard Brown, p. 473
Religious titles
Preceded by 36th US House Chaplain
December 1, 1845 – December 7, 1846
Succeeded by
William T.S. Sprole
Preceded by 41st US House Chaplain
December 5, 1853 – March 4, 1855
Succeeded by
None
Preceded by
John Summerfield Lindsay
51st US House Chaplain
December 7, 1885 – August 7, 1893
Succeeded by
Samuel W. Haddaway
Preceded by 49th US Senate Chaplain
April 6, 1893 – November 23, 1903
Succeeded by

william, henry, milburn, september, 1823, april, 1903, blind, methodist, clergyman, friend, notables, including, henry, wadsworth, longfellow, chaplain, united, states, house, representatives, 1845, chaplain, senate, fifty, years, later, 1893, until, death, 19. William Henry Milburn September 26 1823 April 11 1903 was a blind Methodist clergyman A friend of notables including Henry Wadsworth Longfellow he was Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives in 1845 and Chaplain of the Senate fifty years later 1893 until his death in 1903 1 Reverend William Henry Milburn by J Gurney amp Son photographists at 707 Broadway NYC c 1863The Rev William Henry Milburn Contents 1 Early life 2 Ministry 3 Personal life 4 ReferencesEarly life editWilliam Henry Milburn was born September 26 1823 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania to Nicholas and Ann Wyeth Milburn who were devout Methodists and often hosted well known Methodist preachers in their home His father was a prosperous merchant until reverses in the economy led to the failure of his business The family relocated to Jacksonville Illinois then still the West in 1838 There Milburn was raised 2 Before their move to Philadelphia Milburn s left eye had been injured by a piece of glass thrown by a playmate Kept in a dark room for over a year to attempt to aid healing the eye was permanently blinded when doctors tried to remove the callus that had formed over it using some kind of caustic The impairment of that eye led to a similar impairment in the other causing him to be partially blind in his youth and totally blind by his forties Milburn recounts this incident in his autobiography 3 Milburn was chiefly self educated though he had tutors in Latin and Greek until enrolling Illinois College from which he was unable to graduate due to his waning eyesight At the urging of minister friends including Peter Cartwright Milburn became a Methodist circuit rider in 1843 2 Ministry edit nbsp William H Milburn later in life from an 1896 publication His early ministry consisted of hundreds of miles of travel on horseback each month throughout the Midwest On a steamboat in the Ohio he delivered a sermon in which he rebuked Congressmen on board for their intemperate behavior This led to his name being proposed for Chaplain of the House of Representatives a post to which he was elected in 1845 and reelected in 1853 4 Thereafter in succession Milburn served Methodist churches in Montgomery Alabama and Mobile Alabama where having been tried for heresy he spent several years serving a free church After serving his second term as House Chaplain 1853 Milburn moved to New York City where he was pastor of the Pacific Street Methodist Church and then the John Street Methodist Church while also engaged in a life of lecturing He was elected for two more terms as Chaplain of the House in 1885 and in 1887 He preached and lectured throughout the United States Canada Great Britain and Ireland Among his published works his autobiography Ten Years of Preacher Life remains a vivid work of non fiction and is readily available on line 2 Milburn died in Santa Barbara California on April 11 1903 3 Personal life editOn August 13 1843 in Baltimore Maryland Milburn was married to Cornelia Wilmot She was the author of Poems of Faith and Affection Their four children including a daughter Fanny all died young He adopted two children of Rev John Gemley 1 References edit a b The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans edited by Rossiter Johnson amp John Howard Brown a b c Ten Years of Preacher Life Chapters From An Autobiography by William Henry Milburn a b New York Times obituary April 11 1903 Lamb s Biographical Dictionary of the United States Volume 5 by John Howard Brown p 473 Religious titlesPreceded byWilliam Mitchel Daily 36th US House ChaplainDecember 1 1845 December 7 1846 Succeeded byWilliam T S SprolePreceded byJames Gallagher 41st US House ChaplainDecember 5 1853 March 4 1855 Succeeded byNonePreceded byJohn Summerfield Lindsay 51st US House ChaplainDecember 7 1885 August 7 1893 Succeeded bySamuel W HaddawayPreceded byJohn George Butler 49th US Senate ChaplainApril 6 1893 November 23 1903 Succeeded byF J Prettyman Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Henry Milburn amp oldid 1186036904, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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