Richard Peters (cleric)
Encyclopedia
Richard Peters was an American
cleric and a civil servant in colonial Pennsylvania
. For many years he was the rector of Christ Church
in Philadelphia
.
He was born in Liverpool
, England
, where his father, Ralph Peters, was the town clerk. He was educated at Westminster School
, where he married a servant girl, and then went to school in Leyden. He was ordained in the Church of England
and undertook further studies at Wadham College, Oxford
. Believing that his first wife was dead, in 1734 he remarried. A bigamy scandal arose when Peters's first wife reappeared, and he sought exile in America in 1735.
Peters became an assistant at Christ Church in Philadelphia and served there for two years. He then became a registrar at the land office. He also served as secretary to a series of colonial governors and on the Governor's Council
from 1737 until the Revolution
.
In 1762 Peters returned to Christ Church, this time as rector, and remained until his health forced him to resign in September 1775. Throughout these years he was active in many religious, civic, and educational affairs. He worked with Benjamin Franklin
to establish a public academy, which became the Philadelphia College and then the University of Pennsylvania
, and served as President of the school's Board of Regents from 1756 to 1764. He served as a director of the Library Company of Philadelphia
(1750-1764), a manager of Pennsylvania Hospital
(1751–1752), and a member of the American Philosophical Society
(1769–1776).
Peters died in Philadelphia in 1776. His brother William had also emigrated to Pennsylvania. William's son and Richard's nephew was named Richard, and was known as Richard Peters, Jr.
to distinguish him from the prominent churchman; Richard, Jr. (1744-1828) would represent Pennsylvania in the Continental Congress
and serve as a U.S. District Court judge.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cleric and a civil servant in colonial 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...
. For many years he was the rector of Christ Church
Christ Church, Philadelphia
Christ Church is an Episcopal church located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1695 by members of the Church of England, who built a small wooden church on the site by the next year. When the congregation outgrew this structure some twenty years later, they decided to erect a new...
in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
.
He was born in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where his father, Ralph Peters, was the town clerk. He was educated at Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
, where he married a servant girl, and then went to school in Leyden. He was ordained in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
and undertook further studies at Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road in central Oxford. It was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I...
. Believing that his first wife was dead, in 1734 he remarried. A bigamy scandal arose when Peters's first wife reappeared, and he sought exile in America in 1735.
Peters became an assistant at Christ Church in Philadelphia and served there for two years. He then became a registrar at the land office. He also served as secretary to a series of colonial governors and on the Governor's Council
Colonial government in America
The organization and structure of British colonial governments in America shared many attributes. While each of the Thirteen Colonies destined to become the United States had its own history and development, there emerged over time some common features and patterns to the structure andd...
from 1737 until the Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
.
In 1762 Peters returned to Christ Church, this time as rector, and remained until his health forced him to resign in September 1775. Throughout these years he was active in many religious, civic, and educational affairs. He worked with Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
to establish a public academy, which became the Philadelphia College and then 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...
, and served as President of the school's Board of Regents from 1756 to 1764. He served as a director of the Library Company of Philadelphia
Library Company of Philadelphia
The Library Company of Philadelphia is a non-profit organization based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded by Benjamin Franklin as a library, the Library Company of Philadelphia has accumulated one of the most significant collections of historically valuable manuscripts and printed material in...
(1750-1764), a manager of Pennsylvania Hospital
Pennsylvania Hospital
Pennsylvania Hospital is a hospital in Center City, Philadelphia, affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania Health System . Founded on May 11, 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Bond, it was the first hospital in the United States...
(1751–1752), and a member of the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
(1769–1776).
Peters died in Philadelphia in 1776. His brother William had also emigrated to Pennsylvania. William's son and Richard's nephew was named Richard, and was known as Richard Peters, Jr.
Richard Peters (Continental Congress)
Richard Peters sometimes Richard Peters, Jr., to distinguish from his uncle, though this can also mean his son Richard), was an American lawyer, jurist, and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress in 1782 and 1783...
to distinguish him from the prominent churchman; Richard, Jr. (1744-1828) would represent Pennsylvania in the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
and serve as a U.S. District Court judge.
External links
- Biography and portrait at the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of PennsylvaniaThe 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...