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Henry A. P. Muhlenberg

Henry A. P. Muhlenberg
U.S. 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 the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 9th district
In office 1833–1838
Preceded by	James Ford Philander Stephens Lewis Dewart
Succeeded by	George M. Keim
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 7th district
In office 1829–1833
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
Relations	Frederick Muhlenberg (uncle) Peter Muhlenberg (uncle)
Children	Henry Augustus Muhlenberg
Parent(s)	Gotthilf Henry Ernest Muhlenberg Mary Catherine Hall Muhlenberg
Occupation	Minister politician

Henry Augustus Philip Muhlenberg (May 13, 1782 – August 11, 1844) was an American political leader and diplomat. He was a member of the Muhlenberg family political dynasty.

Early life[edit]

Henry Augustus Philip Muhlenberg was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on May 13, 1782.^[1] Henry was the son of Mary Catherine (née Hall) Muhlenberg and Gotthilf Henry Ernest Muhlenberg, a prominent clergyman and botanist.^[2]

His paternal grandfather was Henry Muhlenberg, a German born Lutheran 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 were Revolutionary War leaders, Frederick Muhlenberg, later the 1st Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and Peter Muhlenberg, who served as the 8th Vice-President of Pennsylvania under Benjamin Franklin before his election as a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania.^[4]

Career[edit]

Muhlenberg studied theology and was ordained a Lutheran minister in 1802. He served as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Reading, Pennsylvania, from April 1803 to June 1829.^[4]

He was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1814.^[5]

Political career[edit]

In 1828, Muhlenberg was elected to the United States House of Representatives to serve in the 21st United States Congress as a Jacksonian Democrat.^[6] He was reelected, as a Jacksonian, to the 22nd through 24th United States Congresses. On December 9, 1834, he wrote to John M. Read, later the Attorney General of Pennsylvania, about James Buchanan's election to the United 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 the 25th Congress, this time as a Democrat, and served from March 4, 1829, until his resignation on February 9, 1838, when he was appointed the first United States Minister to the Austrian Empire on February 8, 1838.^[8] He presented his credentials in Vienna on November 7, 1838, and served until September 18, 1840, when he left his post and was succeeded by Daniel Jenifer.^[9]

He ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Pennsylvania twice in 1835 and 1838. He was nominated by the Democratic Party a third time in 1844, but died before the election took place.^[4]

Personal life[edit]

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]

• Mary Elizabeth Muhlenberg (1806–1838), who married the Rev. Ehrgott Jonathan Deininger (1801–1881).^[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 and Joseph Hiester, the 5th governor of Pennsylvania.^[2] Together, they were the parents of:^[3]

• Emma Elizabeth Muhlenberg, who died in infancy.^[3]
• Hiester Henry Muhlenberg (1812–1886), who married Amelia Howard (1817–1852). After her death, he married Katharine Spang Hunter (1835–1913).
• Emma Elizabeth Muhlenberg (1817–1833), who died unmarried.^[3]
• Rosa Catharine Muhlenberg (1821–1867), who married Gustavus Anthony Nicolls (1817–1886).^[3]
• Henry Augustus Muhlenberg (1823–1854), who was elected to Congress and married his cousin, Ann Hall Muhlenberg.^[3]

Muhlenberg died in Reading, Pennsylvania, on August 11, 1844, and is interred at the Charles Evans Cemetery.^[4]

Descendants[edit]

Through his son Henry, he was the grandfather of Henry Augustus Muhlenberg III, who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 1892.^[3]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• United States Congress. "Henry A. P. Muhlenberg (id: M001065)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• "Muhlenberg, John Peter Gabriel" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911.
• Henry A. P. MuhlenbergatFind a Grave