Samuel Provoost was born in New York City, New York to John Provoost and Eva Rutgers on 26 February 1742. He was baptized on 28 February 1742 (The Roosevelt Genealogy, 1649–1902). He was a descendant of William Provoost, who was of a Huguenot family (some of the early settlers in Quebec). His paternal grandmother was Mary (née Spratt) Alexander (1693–1760).
Provoost was educated at King's College, now known as Columbia University, graduating in 1758, and promoted to Master of Arts in 1761.[3]
That same year, he sailed to Europe. He eventually continued his studies at Peterhouse, Cambridge,[4][5] from which he graduated with a second BA in 1766.[6] Samuel was fluent in Hebrew, Greek and Latin, and while he was at Cambridge he learned French and Italian gaining the distinction as a linguist.[7]
During this time, he also matriculated at the University of Leiden, on July 28, 1764.[8][9]
In February 1766, Provoost was ordained a deacon at the Chapel RoyalofSt James's Palace in Westminster and a priest in March 1766. In September 1766, he sailed to New York with his wife and in December he became an assistant rector of Trinity Church. Provoost's dry preaching style, along his support for American independence, offended some church members and in 1769 a motion was made in the vestry to dispense with his services. The vestry subsequently resolved "That Mr. Provoost be continued, and paid by what can be raised by subscription only," but funds weren't forthcoming and in 1771 Provoost resigned and settled in Dutchess County near his friends Walter Livingston and Robert R. Livingston.[10]
During his 13 years there he preached occasionally in neighboring churches, and joined his neighbors in their pursuit of the British after the burning of the town of Esopus, but he declined offers to serve as a delegate to the Provincial Congress and as chaplain of the New York Constitutional Convention of 1777, as well as the rectorship of churches in Charleston, South Carolina, and Boston.[11]
In 1783, after the end of the American Revolutionary War, the outspoken Tory rector of Trinity Church, Charles Inglis (the future first Anglican Bishop in Canada), left for England and was replaced by assistant rector Benjamin Moore, who had stayed at Trinity through the British occupation. Returning Patriots objected and in 1784 installed Provoost as rector of Trinity, with Moore agreeing to stay on as assistant rector.[12] In 1785, he was named chaplain of the Continental Congress.[11]
The Episcopal Church of the United States broke away from the Church of England and held its first General Convention in 1785. In 1786 Provoost was elected first Bishop of New York at the Diocesan Convention.[13] A short while later, he was honored with the degree of Doctor of Divinity from the University of Pennsylvania.[14] In 1787, Provoost was consecrated with Dr. William White at Lambeth Place by Dr. John Moore. Provoost was elected Chaplain to the Senate in 1789. Due to health issues, he resigned the rectorship of Trinity in 1800. The following year, Provoost sought to relinquish his episcopal office, but the House of Bishops declined his resignation, instead appointing Moore as Adjutant Bishop. Provoost effectively retired, but remained Bishop until his death in 1815.[2][15]
On June 8, 1766, he married Maria Bousfield (d. 1799)[15] who was the daughter of Thomas Bousfield, a rich Irish banker and the sister of Benjamin Bousfield,[2]aSheriff of Cork City. Their children were:[16][17]
^Album Studiosorum Academiae Lugduno Batavae MDLXXV-MDCCCLXXV, kol. 1082.
^Index to English speaking students who have graduated at Leyden university / by Edward Peacock, F.S.A. - London : For the Index society, by Longmans, Green & co. 1883, p. 80, 1082.
^ abcRyder, George T. (August 21, 1886). "The First Bishop of New York". The Churchman. Churchman Company: 201–202. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
^ abcdeGreene, Richard Henry; Stiles, Henry Reed; Dwight, Melatiah Everett; Morrison, George Austin; Mott, Hopper Striker; Totten, John Reynolds; Pitman, Harold Minot; Ditmas, Charles Andrew; Forest, Louis Effingham De; Maynard, Arthur S.; Mann, Conklin (1880). The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
