BEECHER, HENRY WARD ( ]S]3-87 ). A Prot estant pulpit orator. He was the eighth child and third son of Lyman Beecher and Roxana Foote, a granddaughter of Gen. Andrew Ward, and was born in Litchfield, Conn.. June 24, 1813. He received his early education at home, and at a private school in Bethlehem, and was known as a sensitive, diffident child, his talents first showing themselves when he was about 11 years of age, in a debate with an older schoolmate over Paine's Age of Reason, young Beecher winning the vic tory. With little aptitude for study, he had a strong desire to go to sea—a plan abandoned on his conversion, during a revival of religion, and in 1826 he entered the Boston Latin School. Completing his preparatory course at the Mount Pleasant School, in Amherst, he entered Amherst College, graduating in 1834, having taken only fair rank in mathematics and the classics, but having displayed marked ability as a writer and debater. On graduation he studied theology under his father in Lane Seminary; was in 1837 39 and 1839-47 pastor of Presbyterian churches in Lawrenceburg and Indianapolis, Ind., and in 1847 was called to take charge of Plymouth Church, a new Congregational organization in Brooklyn, N. Y., which soon became noted on both continents for its bold advocacy of unpopu lar reforms, such as abolition and temperance, and for the generosity and intelligence of its members. His congregation became one of the largest in America, the seating capacity of the church being nearly 3000. But it was not to this audience alone that he preached; for, as he be lieved that all things concerning the public wel fare are fit subjects for a minister, his opinions on all questions were eagerly read by the public at large. Be disregarded the conventional methods of preparing sermons, did not always rely on notes, even; and the physical strength that enabled him to deliver several discourses in a clay was scarcely less wonderful than the eloquence, dramatic power, pathos, and wit that characterized them. Fierce in his denunciations
of injustice, he was, nevertheless, tender-hearted, charitable, and catholic. Though a steadfast be liever in the divinity of Christ, his theology was not in general accord with that of the Congre gational denomination. In 1S78 he formally re nounced his belief in the eternity of future pun ishment. He was, perhaps. the most popular lecturer in the country, and was an unrivaled after-dinner speaker. Among his orations are that delivered at the celebration of the centen nial anniversary of the birthday of Burns (1859) and that (by request of the Government) at Fort Sumter, April, 1865, on the anniversary of its fall.
He allied himself with the Republican Party as soon as it was formed, lent his pen and his pulpit to further its aims, and during the can vass of 1856 traveled far and wide to speak at mass-meetings. In 1863 he visited Europe for his health, and when in Great Britain addressed vast audiences on the purposes and issues of the Civil War, speaking in one instance for three hours consecutively, and changing materially the state of public opinion. In 1884 he supported heartily the Democratic candidate for President. In 1874 suit was brought against him for adul tery by his former intimate friend, Theodore Tilton. The trial lasted six months, resulting, after fifty-two ballots, in a disagreement of the jury, nine of the twelve voting in Mr. Beecher's favor.
Mr. Beecher was a strong advocate of free trade and of woman suffrage. His last public speech was in favor of high license, at Chicker ing Hall, New York. February 25, 1887. He died in Brooklyn on March 8th following, and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery. His sum mer home for many years previous had been at Peekskill, on the Hudson, where he indulged his taste for farming and horticulture. He was fond of art, gems, flowers, and animals. He was chaplain of the Thirteenth Regiment, National Guard, 1878-87.