Henry Augustus Muhlenberg
Encyclopedia
Henry Augustus Muhlenberg (1823–1854) was an American politician and Congressman
(Democratic
) representing the state of Pennsylvania
.
Muhlenburg was member of the Muhlenberg Family
political dynasty. He was born in Reading, Pennsylvania
on July 21, 1823. His father, Henry A. P. Muhlenberg
, was a Congressman and U.S. Minister to Austria; his grandfather, Joseph Hiester
, was the governor of Pennsylvania.
Muhlenberg attended Dickinson College
in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1844, practicing law in Reading, Pennsylvania. He was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate
in 1849, serving until 1852 when he was elected to the United States House of Representatives
to represent the 8th Congressional district. He began Congressional service on March 4, 1853, and died less than a year later.
Muhlenberg died in Washington, D.C.
on January 9, 1854, while in office. He was buried in the Charles Evans Cemetery in Reading.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
(Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
) representing the state of 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...
.
Muhlenburg was member of the Muhlenberg Family
Muhlenberg family
The Muhlenberg family created a United States political, religious, and military dynasty based in the state of Pennsylvania. The family descends from Heinrich Melchior Mühlenberg/Henry Muhlenberg , a German immigrant, noted Lutheran minister, and founder of the Lutheran Church in...
political dynasty. He was born in Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
on July 21, 1823. His father, Henry A. P. Muhlenberg
Henry A. P. Muhlenberg
Henry Augustus Philip Muhlenberg was an American political leader and diplomat. He was a member of the Muhlenberg Family political dynasty....
, was a Congressman and U.S. Minister to Austria; his grandfather, Joseph Hiester
Joseph Hiester
Joseph Hiester was the fifth Governor of Pennsylvania from 1820 to 1823. He was a member of the Hiester family political dynasty.-Biography:...
, was the governor of Pennsylvania.
Muhlenberg attended Dickinson College
Dickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle is a borough in and the county seat of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The name is traditionally pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable. Carlisle is located within the Cumberland Valley, a highly productive agricultural region. As of the 2010 census, the borough...
. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1844, practicing law in Reading, Pennsylvania. He was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate
Pennsylvania State Senate
The Pennsylvania State Senate has been meeting since 1791. It is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such...
in 1849, serving until 1852 when he was elected to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
to represent the 8th Congressional district. He began Congressional service on March 4, 1853, and died less than a year later.
Muhlenberg died in 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 January 9, 1854, while in office. He was buried in the Charles Evans Cemetery in Reading.