John Delavau Bryant
Encyclopedia
John Delavau Bryant was an American physician, poet, author, and editor.
, and entered the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in New York in 1839.
After one year he left the seminary to travel in Europe. On his return he was received into the Catholic Church at St. John's Church, Philadelphia, 12 February 1842. He graduated in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in 1848.
In 1855, during the yellow fever
epidemic in Portsmouth
and Norfolk, Virginia
, he volunteered for duty and returned only after the epidemic had subsided. In 1857, he married Miss Mary Harriet Riston, daughter of George Riston.
For two years in the early sixties he was editor of the Catholic Herald.
He also published, about 1852, a controversial novel entitled Pauline Seward which had considerable vogue at the time, especially among Catholics, and ran through ten editions. In 1855 he published The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, an exposition of the dogma recently promulgated.
Biography
He was born in 1811 in Philadelphia to Episcopalian minister, the Rev. William Bryant. His mother, was a daughter of John Delavau, a shipbuilder of Philadelphia. His early education was under his father and in the Episcopalian Academy. He received the degree of A.B. in 1839, and A.M. in 1842 from the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity 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...
, and entered the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in New York in 1839.
After one year he left the seminary to travel in Europe. On his return he was received into the Catholic Church at St. John's Church, Philadelphia, 12 February 1842. He graduated in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in 1848.
In 1855, during the yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
epidemic in Portsmouth
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
and Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, he volunteered for duty and returned only after the epidemic had subsided. In 1857, he married Miss Mary Harriet Riston, daughter of George Riston.
For two years in the early sixties he was editor of the Catholic Herald.
Works
His principal work, published in 1859 by subscription, is an epic poem entitled The Redemption, apparently inspired by a visit to Jerusalem. It is founded on the Bible and Catholic tradition.He also published, about 1852, a controversial novel entitled Pauline Seward which had considerable vogue at the time, especially among Catholics, and ran through ten editions. In 1855 he published The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, an exposition of the dogma recently promulgated.