NAME Francis Asbury
WHAT FAMOUS FOR Francis Asbury was a prominent figure in early American Methodism and is known for his role as one of the first two bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States. He is Often referred to as the "Prophet of the Long Road" or the "Bishop without a Diocese."
BIRTH Francis Asbury was born on August 20, 1745, in Hamstead Bridge, Staffordshire, England.
FAMILY BACKGROUND He was born into a working-class family, with his father Joseph Asbury working as a gardener and his mother Elizabeth Asbury taking care of the household.
CHILDHOOD Asbury grew up in humble surroundings in England, where he developed a strong sense of religious devotion from a young age.
EDUCATION He had a limited formal education due to working as a blacksmith's apprentice. Despite his limited formal education, Asbury was a voracious reader and self-taught scholar, with a particular interest in theology and Christian literature.
CAREER RECORD Asbury's career was devoted to spreading Methodism in the American colonies. He arrived in America in 1771 as a Methodist preacher and spent the rest of his life traveling extensively throughout the country, preaching, establishing churches, and organizing Methodist societies.
His resume reads:
Licensed Methodist preacher at 18
Became an ordained traveling preacher (circuit rider) at 21
Volunteered for missionary work in America in 1771
Appointed joint superintendent of Methodist work in America in 1774 (later became the sole superintendent)
Elected the first Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in America in 1784
APPEARANCE Asbury was described as having a slender to medium build, with a plain and unassuming appearance that reflected his humble nature. Of average height , Asbury had piercing blue eyes and a strong jawline.
John Paradise - Francis Asbury |
FASHION Asbury dressed modestly, typically wearing plain and practical clothing befitting his role as a preacher travelling long distances on horseback
CHARACTER Asbury was known for his piety, dedication, and unwavering commitment to his faith. He was also admired for his humility and selflessness.
SENSE OF HUMOUR While Asbury was deeply serious about his religious mission, he also had a warm and approachable demeanor. He was known to use humor in his sermons to make a point or connect with his audience.
RELATIONSHIPS Asbury formed close friendships with fellow Methodist leaders, including John Wesley and Thomas Coke, with whom he worked closely to establish and expand Methodism in America.
Asbury was celibate and devoted his life to his ministry.
MONEY AND FAME Asbury lived a simple and frugal lifestyle, with any money he received typically being used to support his missionary work and the Methodist cause.
He refused to accept a salary and traveled on horseback, often staying with families along the way.
Famous for his dedication and leadership, but not interested in personal wealth or recognition.
FOOD AND DRINK Asbury adhered to a simple diet, often subsisting on basic fare such as bread, vegetables, and tea.
MUSIC AND ARTS He appreciated music as a means of worship but did not have a particular interest in the arts beyond their role in religious expression. Hymns played a significant role in Methodist worship services.
LITERATURE Asbury was well-versed in the Bible and other theological works, which formed the basis of his preaching and teaching.
NATURE Asbury found solace and inspiration in the natural world, often incorporating references to nature into his sermons and writings.
HOBBIES AND SPORTS Asbury's primary focus was on his religious duties, leaving little time for leisure activities or hobbies.
SCIENCE AND MATHS While not his area of expertise, Asbury recognized the importance of education and intellectual inquiry, particularly within the context of religious study.
PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Asbury was a devout Christian who firmly believed in the principles of Methodism. He emphasized personal conversion, evangelism, living a holy life and social justice.
When Francis Asbury rolled into the colonies in 1771, je was a man with a mission and a horse with serious wanderlust. He wasn't there for sightseeing or sipping tea with the Boston Brahmins. No, Asbury had a far more ambitious plan: to spread Methodism across the sprawling frontier like wildfire.
His weapon of choice? Circuit riding. Think of it as the Uber of evangelism. Asbury would pick a region, then gallop from town to town, preaching the Methodist message with the fervor of a tent revivalist on a triple espresso. Thousands of miles he clocked each year, a tireless circuit rider crisscrossing the colonies like a spiritual Pony Express.
Now, Asbury wasn't a dictator. He wasn't some power-hungry bishop lording over his flock. He empowered local preachers, these lay folks who shared his passion. But Asbury wasn't handing out participation trophies. These weren't your leisure-suit-wearing preachers. No sir, Asbury demanded dedication. Up at 4 am for Bible study, hitting the streets by 5 am to catch folks on their way to work – that was the life of a Methodist lay reader. Talk about hardcore.
By 1784, things were getting official. Methodism was booming, but there was a bit of a snag. The American Revolution had severed ties with the Church of England, leaving American Methodists without the sacraments – baptism, communion, the whole shebang. Enter John Wesley, Methodism's founding father, who decided enough was enough. He ordained his buddy Thomas Coke, a Church of England priest, to ordain Asbury and be his co-superintendent for the American Methodists. With a laying on of hands (very official-sounding), Methodism in America got its long-awaited legitimacy.
The Ordination of Bishop Asbury, an engraving of an 1882 painting of the scene |
And then came the boom. The 1784 Christmas Conference marked the birth of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a homegrown American denomination. With Asbury at the helm, Methodism exploded. From a measly 500 or so members, the church ballooned to over 200,000 by the time Asbury shuffled off this mortal coil in 1816.
SCANDAL There are no known scandals associated with Asbury's life or ministry.
MILITARY RECORD Asbury was not involved in the American Revolution.
HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Asbury's rigorous travel schedule and demanding preaching itinerary took a toll on his health, but he remained committed to his work despite physical challenges.
HOMES Asbury lived a nomadic lifestyle, often staying in the homes of fellow Methodists or in rudimentary accommodations while traveling.
TRAVEL Asbury wasn't picky about his pulpit. Courthouses, taverns, tobacco barns – wherever he could find a crowd, Asbury would preach. He was a circuit-riding dynamo who rode an average of 6,000 miles a year, spreading the Methodist message to remote areas and pioneer new church communities.
DEATH Francis Asbury passed away on March 31, 1816, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, United States.
APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Asbury's life and legacy have been celebrated in numerous books, articles, and documentaries, highlighting his pivotal role in the expansion of Methodism in America.
ACHIEVEMENTS Asbury's most significant achievement was his instrumental role in establishing Methodism as a major religious movement in the United States.
Ordained thousands of preachers and helped spread Methodism westward across the frontier.
Championed social justice and spoke out against slavery.
NAME Chester A. Arthur
WHAT FAMOUS FOR Chester A. Arthur was the 21st President of the United States, serving from 1881 to 1885. He is known for his efforts to reform the civil service system and for his role in advocating for civil rights for African Americans.
BIRTH Chester Alan Arthur was born on October 5, 1829, in Fairfield, Vermont, United States. He was named "Chester" after Chester Abell, the physician and family friend who assisted in his birth, and "Alan" for his paternal grandfather.
FAMILY BACKGROUND Arthur was the son of William Arthur, an abolitionist preacher in the Free Will Baptists denomination, a group of people that believe in free grace, free salvation and free will, and Malvina Stone Arthur. His father immigrated to the United States from Ireland, while his mother was born in Vermont. Arthur's family had modest means but placed a strong emphasis on education and moral values.
CHILDHOOD Arthur spent his childhood in Vermont, where he was raised in a household deeply involved in community affairs and the anti-slavery movement.
EDUCATION He attended Union College in Schenectady, New York, where he excelled academically and developed an interest in law.
CAREER RECORD After completing his education, Arthur moved to New York City to pursue a career in law. After a detour into education, where Arthur briefly held the grand title of Principal at the rather modestly sized North Pownal Academy (think classrooms in his dad's church basement), destiny took a turn. Arthur, by some twist of fate, ended up as the lawyer for Elizabeth Jennings Graham, a Black woman who simply wanted a seat on a segregated streetcar. Arthur, to everyone's surprise, won the case, and poof! Desegregated streetcars for all of New York. Not a bad first foray into law.
Roscoe Conkling, a powerful senator who took Arthur under his wing. Soon, Arthur found himself as the Collector of the Port of New York, a fancy way of saying he raked in the big bucks for the government. But then came reform and a new president, Rutherford B. Hayes, who gave Arthur the boot. Ouch.
Luckily, political fortunes can change faster than a New York minute. James Garfield, the next Republican nominee for president, needed a vice president to balance the ticket. Enter Arthur, somewhat reluctantly. Then, tragedy struck. Garfield got shot, succumbed to his wounds, and before you could say "constitutional crisis," Chester A. Arthur, the man who once brawled over politics, was sworn in as the 21st president.
President Arthur, it turned out, was a bit of a reformer himself. He championed the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, which aimed to take the patronage (read: political bribery) out of government jobs. He also oversaw a Navy revival, which was good, because let's face it, a country needs a decent Navy. But he wasn't everyone's cup of tea. The ever-growing federal budget surplus? Not tackled to everyone's satisfaction. And then there was the Chinese Exclusion Act, a law that slammed the door shut on Chinese immigration for decades – a real black mark on his record.
His resume is as follows:
Lawyer in New York City
Quartermaster General of New York during the Civil War
Collector of the Port of New York (1871-1878)
20th Vice President of the United States (1881)
21st President of the United States (1881-1885)
APPEARANCE Arthur was known for his distinctive appearance, and fashionable attire. He was tall and distinguished with a neatly groomed beard, mustache and sideburns.
Chester A Arthur |
FASHION Arthur was known for his impeccable fashion sense, often seen wearing tailored suits and stylish accessories. earning him the nickname "Elegant Arthur." He had an ahem, extensive pants collection. 80 pairs! The man had more trousers than a haberdashery.
CHARACTER Arthur was described as affable, charming, and diplomatic, with a knack for building consensus and maintaining good relationships with colleagues and political allies.
SENSE OF HUMOR Arthur was known to possess a dry humor, which he often used to diffuse tension in political situations. He was a witty storyteller
RELATIONSHIPS Arthur married Ellen "Nell" Herndon on October 25, 1859, at Calvary Episcopal Church in New York City. Their place on Lexington Avenue became famous for the shindigs they threw. Big social gatherings were their thing.
They had three children together, though tragedy struck early on when one, poor little William, died at just two and a half from convulsions. A terrible blow.
Sadly, Nell never got to see Chester take the big seat. Pneumonia took her before he even became vice president in 1880.
With Nell gone, Chester's sister, Mary, stepped in as the White House hostess during his presidency. But Chester never forgot his wife. Every single day he was in the White House, he had fresh flowers placed in front of Nell's portrait.
MONEY AND FAME Arthur enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle but was not excessively wealthy. His fame came primarily from his political career and his tenure as President of the United States.
Arthur had a taste for the finer things. He brought in Louis Comfort Tiffany, the Tiffany guy, to redecorate the White House. To fund this fancy makeover, he even held a White House yard sale (or, as they delicately called it, a "public auction"). Imagine Abraham Lincoln's pants going up for grabs!
FOOD AND DRINK Arthur was known to enjoy fine dining and appreciated gourmet cuisine.
MUSIC AND ARTS He had a fondness for classical music and supported the arts during his presidency.
LITERATURE Arthur was an avid reader and had a particular interest in history and political philosophy.
NATURE He enjoyed spending time outdoors and was known to appreciate the natural beauty of the American landscape.
HOBBIES AND SPORTS Arthur enjoyed horseback riding and billiards and was an enthusiastic supporter of various sports, including baseball.
SCIENCE AND MATHS While not a scientist or mathematician himself, Arthur supported initiatives to advance scientific research and education during his presidency.
PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Arthur's political philosophy was rooted in the principles of liberty, equality, and justice. He was a firm believer in the Constitution and the rule of law.
Arthur taking the oath of office at his home |
A moderate abolitionist, as a lawyer, Arthur defended several runaway slaves and was an early activist in the New York Republican party.
Arthur was raised in a religious household, but his personal beliefs are not well documented
SCANDAL Arthur's presidency was overshadowed by accusations of corruption and cronyism, particularly regarding his involvement in the New York City Customs House.
MILITARY RECORD The Civil War saw Arthur as a quartermaster general, a title that sounds ripped from the pages of a Tolkien novel but basically meant he wrangled supplies for the state's troops. He did this with surprising efficiency and honesty, which wasn't always a given in those days. This earned him a coveted spot in the New York Republican organization, a stepping stone to bigger things.
He worked to modernize the U.S. Navy and improve infrastructure during his presidency.
HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Arthur struggled with health issues in his later life, including Bright's disease, a kidney ailment that eventually led to his death.
HOMES Arthur lived in various residences throughout his life, including in New York City, Albany, New York and Washington, D.C.
TRAVEL As president, Arthur traveled extensively throughout the United States, visiting various states and participating in ceremonial events.
LAST YEARS AND DEATH Chester A. Arthur battled Bright's disease, a nasty kidney ailment, throughout his presidency, keeping it all under wraps. He even made a half-hearted run for reelection in 1884, but ill health and, let's be honest, a lack of enthusiasm, put the kibosh on that.
Leaving office in 1885, Arthur retreated to New York, a respected but not exactly beloved figure. By 1886, his health had deteriorated further, and on a fateful November day, he ordered a bonfire of his personal and political papers. The next day, a stroke robbed him of consciousness, and the following day, November 18, 1886, at the young age of 57, Chester A. Arthur passed away.
APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Arthur has been depicted in various films, television shows, and literature, often as a supporting character in stories about American history and politics.
ACHIEVEMENTS Signed the Pendleton Civil Service Act, reforming the federal employment system.
Oversaw a period of economic growth and naval expansion.
Championed civil rights for African Americans.