Frederick Muhlenberg
Encyclopedia
Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg (ˈmjuːlɨnbɜrɡ; 1750–1801) was an American
minister
and politician
who was the first Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
. A delegate and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
and a Lutheran
pastor by profession, Muhlenberg was born in Trappe, Pennsylvania
.
According to a false legend
, Muhlenberg as House Speaker prevented German
from becoming an official language
of the United States. Nothing like that ever happened.
, an immigrant from Germany
and considered the founder of the Lutheran Church in America. His brother, Peter
, was a General in the Continental Army
and his brother Gotthilf Heinrich Ernst was a botanist. Muhlenberg was born in Trappe, Pennsylvania
.
In 1763, together with his brothers John Peter Gabriel and Gotthilf Henry Ernst, he attended the Latina at the Franckesche Stiftungen in Halle
, Germany. In 1769, he attended the University of Halle, where he studied theology
. He was ordained by the Pennsylvania Ministerium
as a minister of the Lutheran Church on October 25, 1770. He preached in Stouchsburg, Pennsylvania
, and Lebanon, Pennsylvania
, from 1770 to 1774, and in New York City
from 1774 to 1776. When the British entered New York at the onset of the American Revolutionary War
, he felt obliged to leave and returned to Trappe. He moved to New Hanover Township, Pennsylvania
and was pastor there and in Oley
and New Goshenhoppen
until August 1779.
On October 15, 1771, he married Catherine Schaeffer, the daughter of wealthy Philadelphia sugar refiner David Schaeffer. They had seven children.
in 1779 and 1780, and served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from 1780 to 1783. He was elected its speaker
on November 3, 1780. He was a delegate to and president of the Pennsylvania state constitutional convention in 1787 called to ratify the Federal Constitution. He was the first signer of the Bill of Rights
.
He served as a delegate to the First and to the three succeeding United States Congresses (March 4, 1789–March 4, 1797). Muhlenberg was the also the first Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
, including for the First Congress (1789–1791) and Third Congress (1793–1795). He did not seek renomination as Speaker in 1796. On 29 April 1796, as chairman of the Committee of the Whole
, he cast the deciding vote for the laws necessary to carry out the Jay Treaty
.
In 1794, during Muhlenberg's second tenure as Speaker, the House voted 42-41 against a proposal to translate some of the laws into German
. Muhlenberg, who himself abstained from the vote, commented later, "the faster the Germans become Americans, the better it will be." Despite not having voted against the bill, a legend
called the Muhlenberg Legend
developed in which he was responsible for prohibiting German as an official language of the United States.
According to another legend, Muhlenberg also suggested that the title of the President of the United States should be "Mr. President" instead of "His High Mightiness" or "His Elected Majesty", as John Adams
had suggested.
Muhlenberg was president of the council of censors of Pennsylvania, and was appointed receiver general of the Pennsylvania Land Office on January 8, 1800, serving until his death in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
, on June 4, 1801. He was interred in Woodward Hill Cemetery
in Lancaster. After his death, the Township of Muhlenberg, Pennsylvania
, was named for him.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
minister
Minister of religion
In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform functions such as teaching of beliefs; leading services such as weddings, baptisms or funerals; or otherwise providing spiritual guidance to the community...
and politician
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
who was the first Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
. A delegate and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and a Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
pastor by profession, Muhlenberg was born in Trappe, Pennsylvania
Trappe, Pennsylvania
Trappe is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,509 at the 2010 census. Augustus Lutheran Church, built in 1743, is the oldest unchanged Lutheran church building in the United States in continuous use by the same congregation...
.
According to a false legend
Muhlenberg legend
The Muhlenberg legend is an urban legend in the United States and Germany. According to the legend, Frederick Muhlenberg, the first ever Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, kept German from becoming an official language of the United States...
, Muhlenberg as House Speaker prevented German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
from becoming an official language
Official language
An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in a particular country, state, or other jurisdiction. Typically a nation's official language will be the one used in that nation's courts, parliament and administration. However, official status can also be used to give a...
of the United States. Nothing like that ever happened.
Early life and ministerial career
Frederick Muhlenberg was the son of Henry MuhlenbergHenry Muhlenberg
Henry Melchior Muhlenberg , was a German Lutheran pastor sent to North America as a missionary, requested by Pennsylvania colonists....
, an immigrant from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and considered the founder of the Lutheran Church in America. His brother, Peter
Peter Muhlenberg
John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg was an American clergyman, Continental Army soldier during the American Revolutionary War, and political figure in the newly-independent United States...
, was a General in the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
and his brother Gotthilf Heinrich Ernst was a botanist. Muhlenberg was born in Trappe, Pennsylvania
Trappe, Pennsylvania
Trappe is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,509 at the 2010 census. Augustus Lutheran Church, built in 1743, is the oldest unchanged Lutheran church building in the United States in continuous use by the same congregation...
.
In 1763, together with his brothers John Peter Gabriel and Gotthilf Henry Ernst, he attended the Latina at the Franckesche Stiftungen in Halle
Halle, Saxony-Anhalt
Halle is the largest city in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is also called Halle an der Saale in order to distinguish it from the town of Halle in North Rhine-Westphalia...
, Germany. In 1769, he attended the University of Halle, where he studied theology
Christian theology
- Divisions of Christian theology :There are many methods of categorizing different approaches to Christian theology. For a historical analysis, see the main article on the History of Christian theology.- Sub-disciplines :...
. He was ordained by the Pennsylvania Ministerium
Pennsylvania Ministerium
The Pennsylvania Ministerium was the first Lutheran church body in North America. With the encouragement of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, the Ministerium was founded at a meeting of German-American Lutheran clergy on August 26, 1748...
as a minister of the Lutheran Church on October 25, 1770. He preached in Stouchsburg, Pennsylvania
Stouchsburg, Pennsylvania
Stouchsburg is an unincorporated community located in extreme western Berks County, Pennsylvania. It is just off U.S. Route 422 along Main St. in Marion Township, and is served by the Conrad Weiser Area School District. It is three miles northwest of Womelsdorf and four miles east of Myerstown...
, and Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Lebanon, formerly known as Steitztown, is a city in and the county seat of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 25,477 at the 2010 census, a 4.2% increase from the 2000 count of 24,461...
, from 1770 to 1774, and in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from 1774 to 1776. When the British entered New York at the onset of 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...
, he felt obliged to leave and returned to Trappe. He moved to New Hanover Township, Pennsylvania
New Hanover Township, Pennsylvania
New Hanover Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 10,939 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
and was pastor there and in Oley
Oley Township, Pennsylvania
Oley Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania. As of the 2000 census, the township had a population of 3,583. Oley Township was originally formed in 1740 as a part of Philadelphia County, before Berks County was formed in 1752...
and New Goshenhoppen
Bally, Pennsylvania
Bally is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,062 at the 2000 census, but a 2005 census estimate put the population at 1,102 residents.-History:...
until August 1779.
On October 15, 1771, he married Catherine Schaeffer, the daughter of wealthy Philadelphia sugar refiner David Schaeffer. They had seven children.
Political career
Muhlenberg was a member of the Continental CongressContinental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
in 1779 and 1780, and served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
from 1780 to 1783. He was elected its speaker
Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives holds the oldest state-wide elected office in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Since its first session under the Frame of Government in 1682, presided over by William Penn, over 130 House members have been elevated to the speaker's chair...
on November 3, 1780. He was a delegate to and president of the Pennsylvania state constitutional convention in 1787 called to ratify the Federal Constitution. He was the first signer of the Bill of Rights
United States Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights is the collective name for the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. These limitations serve to protect the natural rights of liberty and property. They guarantee a number of personal freedoms, limit the government's power in judicial and other proceedings, and...
.
He served as a delegate to the First and to the three succeeding United States Congresses (March 4, 1789–March 4, 1797). Muhlenberg was the also the first Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
, including for the First Congress (1789–1791) and Third Congress (1793–1795). He did not seek renomination as Speaker in 1796. On 29 April 1796, as chairman of the Committee of the Whole
Committee of the Whole
A Committee of the Whole is a device in which a legislative body or other deliberative assembly is considered one large committee. All members of the legislative body are members of such a committee...
, he cast the deciding vote for the laws necessary to carry out the Jay Treaty
Jay Treaty
Jay's Treaty, , also known as Jay's Treaty, The British Treaty, and the Treaty of London of 1794, was a treaty between the United States and Great Britain that is credited with averting war,, resolving issues remaining since the Treaty of Paris of 1783, which ended the American Revolution,, and...
.
In 1794, during Muhlenberg's second tenure as Speaker, the House voted 42-41 against a proposal to translate some of the laws into German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
. Muhlenberg, who himself abstained from the vote, commented later, "the faster the Germans become Americans, the better it will be." Despite not having voted against the bill, a legend
Urban legend
An urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend, is a form of modern folklore consisting of stories that may or may not have been believed by their tellers to be true...
called the Muhlenberg Legend
Muhlenberg legend
The Muhlenberg legend is an urban legend in the United States and Germany. According to the legend, Frederick Muhlenberg, the first ever Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, kept German from becoming an official language of the United States...
developed in which he was responsible for prohibiting German as an official language of the United States.
According to another legend, Muhlenberg also suggested that the title of the President of the United States should be "Mr. President" instead of "His High Mightiness" or "His Elected Majesty", as John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
had suggested.
Muhlenberg was president of the council of censors of Pennsylvania, and was appointed receiver general of the Pennsylvania Land Office on January 8, 1800, serving until his death in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
, on June 4, 1801. He was interred in Woodward Hill Cemetery
Woodward Hill Cemetery
Woodward Hill Cemetery is a historic cemetery in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It was founded by the Trinity Lutheran Church of Lancaster at some time between 1849 and 1852, but became a non-denominational cemetery in 1856. It is well known for being the burial place of James Buchanan, the 15th...
in Lancaster. After his death, the Township of Muhlenberg, Pennsylvania
Muhlenberg Township, Pennsylvania
Muhlenberg Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 16,305 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 12.2 square miles , of which, 12.0 square miles of it is land and...
, was named for him.
See also
- German in the United StatesGerman in the United StatesAround 1.38 million Americans speak German. It is the second most spoken language in two states: North Dakota and South Dakota.In the United States, German is third in popularity after Spanish and French in terms of the number of colleges and universities offering instruction in the language.-...
- The Home of Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg