Jedediah Vincent Huntington
Encyclopedia
Jedediah Vincent Huntington, (alt. Jedidiah) was a clergy
man and novelist. He was born 20 January 1815, in New York City
, the son of Benjamin Huntington Jr. and Faith Trumbull Huntington. He died 10 March 1862, at Pau, France
.
, where he graduated in 1835. He then studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
, received his degree in 1838, but never practised his profession. During the three years following he was professor of mental philosophy in St. Paul's Episcopal school near Flushing, L. I., and at the same time studied for the ministry under William Augustus Muhlenberg. In 1841 he was ordained a minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church, resigned his professorship, and became rector of the Episcopal church at Middlebury, Vermont. At the end of five years he resigned because of doubts about his religious position, and went to Europe. The next three years he spent mostly in England and in Rome. He left England apparently a firm believer in the Anglican
theory of the "Via media". The authority of Rome outside the British possessions he readily accepted. Soon after his arrival in Rome, however, he became convinced that his duty lay in recognizing the exclusive authority of the Roman Catholic Church. On speaking of the subject to his wife, he was agreeably surprised to learn that she was of one mind with him. Accordingly they were both received into the Roman Catholic Church in 1849.
Returning to America he lectured before learned associations in several of the large cities. He became editor of the Metropolitan Magazine, a Catholic periodical published in Baltimore
, and later edited The Leader published in St. Louis; each proved a failure. His life was, however, a literary life, and fairly successful. The last few years of his life were spent at Pau, in the south of France, where he died of pulmonary tuberculosis
in his forty-eighth year.
Huntington is best known as a writer of fiction. His novels were widely read and received considerable notice in the leading journals in America and England. The criticism was often harsh and at times justly deserved, especially in the case of his first novel Lady Alice and its sequel The Forest. One of his best works is Alban, or the History of a Young Puritan, which is practically the history of his own life. His last work, which is best known and which is the only one reprinted, is Rosemary, or Life and Death.
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
man and novelist. He was born 20 January 1815, 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...
, the son of Benjamin Huntington Jr. and Faith Trumbull Huntington. He died 10 March 1862, at Pau, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Biography
He received his early education at home and at an Episcopalian private school. He entered Yale College and later the University of New YorkUniversity of New York
University of New York may refer to:*University of New York in Prague, Czech Republic*University of New York Tirana, Albania* University of New York, fictional university on the American television series Felicity , modelled on New York University-See also:*There is no institution of higher...
, where he graduated in 1835. He then studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, received his degree in 1838, but never practised his profession. During the three years following he was professor of mental philosophy in St. Paul's Episcopal school near Flushing, L. I., and at the same time studied for the ministry under William Augustus Muhlenberg. In 1841 he was ordained a minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church, resigned his professorship, and became rector of the Episcopal church at Middlebury, Vermont. At the end of five years he resigned because of doubts about his religious position, and went to Europe. The next three years he spent mostly in England and in Rome. He left England apparently a firm believer in the Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
theory of the "Via media". The authority of Rome outside the British possessions he readily accepted. Soon after his arrival in Rome, however, he became convinced that his duty lay in recognizing the exclusive authority of the Roman Catholic Church. On speaking of the subject to his wife, he was agreeably surprised to learn that she was of one mind with him. Accordingly they were both received into the Roman Catholic Church in 1849.
Returning to America he lectured before learned associations in several of the large cities. He became editor of the Metropolitan Magazine, a Catholic periodical published in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, and later edited The Leader published in St. Louis; each proved a failure. His life was, however, a literary life, and fairly successful. The last few years of his life were spent at Pau, in the south of France, where he died of pulmonary tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
in his forty-eighth year.
Writings
His first publication was a book of verse. He made several translations from the French, one of which, Ségur's Short and Familiar Answers to Objections against Religion, is still doing service.Huntington is best known as a writer of fiction. His novels were widely read and received considerable notice in the leading journals in America and England. The criticism was often harsh and at times justly deserved, especially in the case of his first novel Lady Alice and its sequel The Forest. One of his best works is Alban, or the History of a Young Puritan, which is practically the history of his own life. His last work, which is best known and which is the only one reprinted, is Rosemary, or Life and Death.
External links
- Catholic Encyclopedia article
- The Divine Institution and Use of the Festival System of the Church, by Jedediah Vincent Huntington (1843)
- Narrative of a Voyage to the Northwest Coast of America, in the Years 1811, 1812, 1813, and 1814, Or, The First American Settlement on the Pacific (New York: Redfield, 1854), by Gabriel Franchère, translated by Huntington
- The Forest, by J. V. Huntington 1852 novel