Ashbel Green
Encyclopedia
Ashbel Green, D.D.
(July 6, 1762 – May 19, 1848) was an American
Presbyterian
minister and academic.
Born in Hanover Township, New Jersey
, Green served as a sergeant of the New Jersey
militia
during the American Revolutionary War
, and went on to study with Dr. John Witherspoon
and graduate as valedictorian
from Princeton University
in 1783. Green later became the third Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives
from 1792 to 1800, and the eighth (and highly unpopular, due to what many students saw as his heavy-handed leadership style) President of Princeton University
, from 1812 to 1822.
He emancipated his family's slave Betsey Stockton
in 1817, taught her and recommended her as a missionary to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
, making her the first single female overseas missionary. He also published a periodical entitled the Christian Advocate.
Green married Elizabeth Stockton on November 3, 1785. They had three children: Robert Stockton Green (1787–1813), Jacob Green (1790–1842), and James Sproat Green
(1792–1862), the latter of whom served as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey
and was the father of Robert Stockton Green
(1831–1895), Governor of New Jersey
. After his first wife died in January 1807, he married Christina Anderson in October 1809. They had one child: Ashbel Green, Jr. (b. 1811).
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
(July 6, 1762 – May 19, 1848) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
minister and academic.
Born in Hanover Township, New Jersey
Hanover Township, New Jersey
Hanover Township is a Township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. At the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 12,898...
, Green served as a sergeant of the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, and went on to study with Dr. John Witherspoon
John Witherspoon
John Witherspoon was a signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of New Jersey. As president of the College of New Jersey , he trained many leaders of the early nation and was the only active clergyman and the only college president to sign the Declaration...
and graduate as valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1783. Green later became the third Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives
Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives
The election of William Linn as Chaplain of the House on May 1, 1789, continued the tradition established by the Continental Congresses of each day's proceedings opening with a prayer by a chaplain. The early Chaplains alternated duties with their Senate counterparts on a weekly basis, covering the...
from 1792 to 1800, and the eighth (and highly unpopular, due to what many students saw as his heavy-handed leadership style) President of Princeton University
President of Princeton University
Princeton University is led by a President selected by the Board of Trustees. Until the accession of Woodrow Wilson, a political scientist, in 1902, they were all clergymen, as well as professors. President Tilghman is a biologist; her two predecessors were economists.-Presidents:# Reverend...
, from 1812 to 1822.
He emancipated his family's slave Betsey Stockton
Betsey Stockton
Betsey Stockton , sometimes spelled Betsy Stockton, was an African American educator and missionary.-Life:She was born into slavery in the Princeton, New Jersey, about the year 1798....
in 1817, taught her and recommended her as a missionary to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was the first American Christian foreign mission agency. It was proposed in 1810 by recent graduates of Williams College and officially chartered in 1812. In 1961 it merged with other societies to form the United Church Board for World...
, making her the first single female overseas missionary. He also published a periodical entitled the Christian Advocate.
Green married Elizabeth Stockton on November 3, 1785. They had three children: Robert Stockton Green (1787–1813), Jacob Green (1790–1842), and James Sproat Green
James S. Green (New Jersey lawyer)
James Sproat Green was an American lawyer who served as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey from 1835 to 1850. He was the father of New Jersey Governor Robert Stockton Green.-Biography:...
(1792–1862), the latter of whom served as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey
United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey
The U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey is the chief federal law enforcement officer in New Jersey. Paul J. Fishman was sworn into office as U.S. Attorney on October 14, 2009 after having been nominated by President Barack Obama. He succeeded Ralph J. Marra, who served as Acting U.S....
and was the father of Robert Stockton Green
Robert Stockton Green
Robert Stockton Green was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 27th Governor of New Jersey from 1887–1890.-Biography:...
(1831–1895), Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
. After his first wife died in January 1807, he married Christina Anderson in October 1809. They had one child: Ashbel Green, Jr. (b. 1811).