John W. French
John W. French (November 9, 1809 – July 8, 1871) was an American Episcopal clergyman and educator.
Early years[edit]
French was born November 9, 1809, son of Edmund French and Sarah Baldwin. His parents died when he was a child, and he was raised in Troy, New York, by his aunt, Sarah French Baldwin, and her husband William Baldwin.
Career[edit]
French graduated from Washington College (now Trinity College), Hartford, Connecticut, in 1832, and from General Theological Seminary, New York City, NY. He was a professor at Bristol College, Bucks County PA, Rector of an Episcopal Church in Portland, Maine, and then first rector of the Church of the Epiphany, Washington, DC.[1] He was appointed chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives on May 31, 1841, and was the first Episcopalian to hold this position.[2]
In 1856, French was named chaplain of the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York, and concurrently professor of geography, history, and ethics there. He served in those positions until his death.[3]
He was the author of "Short Course of Instruction in the Practical Part of Ethics", 1858; and "Grammar: Part of a Course on Language", 1865.
Family life[edit]
He married Clara Miller, and they had 6 children who survived childhood. Their son, John William French, Jr., was an officer in the U.S. Army, as were the husbands of 3 of their daughters. Their daughter Mary French married American Painter, Sculptor and Professor John Ferguson Weir. And their daughter Lillie Hamilton French was a prolific author and a long-time editor at Harper's Bazaar.[4]
Death[edit]
French died July 8, 1871, at West Point,[5] and is buried at the U.S. Military Academy cemetery.
Notes[edit]
- ^ Cullum, George W. (1891). Biographical register of the officers and graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., from its establishment, in 1802, to 1890, 3rd edition. Boston MA: Houghton, Mifflin. p. 46.
- ^ "Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives Art & History - Chaplains". Archived from the original on 2011-06-01. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
- ^ Cullum, George W. Biographical register. p. 46.
- ^ "Miss Lillie French, New York Author". New York Times. June 5, 1939.
- ^ "Decease of Prof. French, of West Point". New York Times. July 10, 1871.
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