Thomas John Claggett was the first bishop

Bishop

A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...

 of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America to be consecrated on American soil and the first bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland

Episcopal Diocese of Maryland

The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland forms part of Province 3 of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It is made up of the northern and central Maryland counties of Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, and Washington...

.

Early family life

Thomas Claggett, born October 2, 1743, was the son of the Reverend Samuel Clagett of Charles Co., Maryland, and Elizabeth Gantt. He was descended from Captain Thomas Clagett who emigrated from England and settled on St. Leonard's Creek, Calvert County, Maryland, in 1671. Captain Claggett at one time owned more than 3700 acres (15 km²) in Calvert, Prince George's, Baltimore and Kent Counties. He was a Justice and Coroner of Calvert County and an opponent of John Coode's second rebellion

John Coode (Governor of Maryland)

John Coode is best known for leading a rebellion that overthrew Maryland's colonial government in 1689...

 of 1689.

Education

After Claggett's father died in 1756, he was placed in the care of his uncle, the Rev. Dr. John Eversfield, the rector of St. Paul's, St. George's County. Three years later he began public school and attended the Lower Marlboro Academy.

In 1762, at age 17, he entered the College of New Jersey, 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....

. On 25 September 1764, he graduated and for three years he received theological training from his maternal uncle, the Rev. Dr. John Eversfield.

Religious appointments

On 20 September 1767, he was made a deacon in the chapel of Fulham Palace, by the bishop of London, Dr. Richard Terrick

Richard Terrick

Richard Terrick was a Church of England clergyman and bishop of London from 1764 to 1777.Terrick graduated with a BA from Clare College, Cambridge in 1729 and an MA in 1733. He was preacher at the Rolls Chapel from 1736 to 1757, and vicar of Twickenham from 1749...

, Lord Bishop of Peterborough. Less than a month later, at the same place and by the same prelate, Thomas was made a priest on 11 October 1767. He remained in England for about three more months, studying and visiting family. In the spring of 1768, he returned home, and was appointed as the Rector of All Saints' Church, Calvert County, Maryland

Maryland

Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...

. In recognition of his studies, in 1787 his alma mater Princeton conferred on him an M.A. degree, and in 1792 he received the degree of doctor in divinity from Washington College

Washington College

Washington College is a private, independent liberal arts college located on a campus in Chestertown, Maryland, on the Eastern Shore. Maryland granted Washington College its charter in 1782...

.

He continued to serve at All Saints Church until the beginning of the American Revolution

American Revolution

The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...

, when he retired to his own estate in Prince George County for two years. In 1779 he began services in St. Paul's Parish, and the next year was chosen Rector

Rector

The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...

.In 1781 and 1782 he was Rector of Queen Caroline Parish in Anne Arundel (now Howard) County, Maryland. "Being a man of excellent fitness for the office, as well as possessed of large private means, he was elected the first bishop of Maryland, and was consecrated" at the triennial convention of the Episcopal Church at Trinity Church

Trinity Church, New York

Trinity Church at 79 Broadway, Lower Manhattan, is a historic, active parish church in the Episcopal Diocese of New York...

 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...

 on 17 September 1792, "Bishop Seabury joining in the consecration." Thomas J. Claggett was the fifth

Succession of Bishops of the Episcopal Church in the United States

This list consists of the bishops in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, an independent province of the Anglican Communion. This shows the historic succession of the episcopate within this denomination.-Key to chart:...

 bishop consecrated for the Episcopal Church in the United States.

United States Senate Chaplain

At the first session of the United States Congress

United States Congress

The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....

 held in the new Capital, Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....

 on 27 November 1800, Bishop Claggett was appointed the third Chaplain

Chaplain

Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...

 of the United States Senate

United States Senate

The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...

 and gave the opening prayer. In 1808 he became Rector of Trinity Church, Upper Marlboro, Maryland

Upper Marlboro, Maryland

Upper Marlboro is a town in and the county seat of Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The live-in population of the town core proper was only 648 at the 2000 census, although Greater Upper Marlboro is many times larger....

, and held that position for the rest of his life. In 1810, he founded Trinity Episcopal Church in Upper Marlboro. On October 16, 1811, he consecrated as Christ Church, the building now known as Old Brick Church in Queen Caroline Parish, Anne Arundel (now Howard) County, Maryland.. On January 9, 1814, he consecrated Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia

Alexandria, Virginia

Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...

. An assistant bishop was appointed in 1814. He published a few sermons, pastoral letters, and addresses to his convention.

Family name spelling

Thomas John Claggett was the first to use the double "g" in spelling his family's name. He saw the need for an Episcopal Church in Washington D.C., and while presiding over his Diocesan convention in 1793, appointed a committee to study the idea. He had an ally in Joseph Nourse

Joseph Nourse

Joseph Nourse was the first United States Register of the Treasury whose career spanned forty years and six presidential administrations. He played a key role in administering the finances of the new Republic.Nourse first served during the American Revolution as military secretary to General...

, the country's First Registrar of the Treasury. Nourse did not want the cathedral in downtown Washington, but on Mt. Alban overlooking the city.

Death and burial

Natus Sexto Nonis Octobris

Anno Salutis

1743

Ordinatus Diaconus et Presbyter

Londini

1767

Et Episcopus Consecratus

1792

Decessit in place Christi

Quarto Nonis Agusti

1816

Fidelitate et Mansuetudine

Ecclesiam Rexit

Moribusque

Ornavit

Uxori, Liberis, Sociisque

memoriam Clarissimam

Et Patraiae et Ecclesiae

nomen Honoratum Dedit