MUHLENBERG, ThrxBreii MEI.CII loR (1711 R7). The founder of American Lutheranism. He was born at Eimbeck, Prussia, September 6, 1711. Ilis parents were Saxon, but having suf fered greatly in the Years' \\'ar, removed to Eimbeek. The death of his father in his twelfth year threw the family into poverty and weasioned an interruption of his studies, and till his twenty-tirst year he toiled incessantly to assist in the support of the family. In 1735 he entered the University of Giittingen, where he re mained three years. Graduating at Giittingen, he went to Halle in 17:38, where, besides studying, he taught in the orphan house. He associated intimately with Franeke. Cellarius, and Fabri idus. Soon after his ordination application came to Germany from Pennsylvania for some one to be sent to labor among the destitute Lutherans of that colony. The faculty immediately selected NIuhlenberg, who was then in his thirty-first wean•. lie accepted the appointment, and the better to qualify himself went to London. where he acquired facility in the use of English. Ile reached America in 1742. to the great joy of the German Christians. Ibis arrival marked a
new era in the history of the Lutheran Chureh in the United States, its condition gradually im proved, and frequent accessions were made to the ranks of the ministry of men educated at Halle and thoroughly devoted to their work. He took the pastoral care of the associated churches of Philadelphia, New Hanover, and New Provi denee (now Trappe, some 25 miles northwest of Philadelphia). which had united in calling a min ister, and these three congregations were the principal scenes of his ministerial labors. The first three years of his ministry he resided in Philadelphia. the next sixteen in New Providence. In 1761 he removed to Philadelphia, but in 1776 went back to New Providence. During the \\'ar of the Revolution his sympathy with the colonists excited great opposition, and his life was often in peril. Consult his autobiography to 1743 (in German) edited by (Altoona, 1881), and his Life by Mann (Philadelphia. 1887), and Frick (Philadelphia. 1902) ; also Oschsenford, Muhlenberg College, a Me morial Volume (Allentown, 1892).