Titus Coan
Encyclopedia
Titus Coan was an early American Christian Missionary to the Hawaiian Islands
.
, the son of Gaylord Coan and Tamza Nettleton. In June, 1831, he entered the Auburn Theological Seminary
in Auburn, New York
, and was ordained in April, 1833. In August of that year he sailed on a mission to Patagonia
for the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
. In 1834 he returned and married Fidelia Church. In December 1834 they left on the merchant ship Hellespont, part of the seventh company from the American Board to the Hawaiian Islands
, then known as the "Sandwich Islands", arriving on June 6, 1835.
Their son Titus Munson Coan, born in 1836, became a physician in the American Civil War
and died in 1921. Daughter Harriet Fidelia was born in 1839 and died in 1906. Daughter Sarah Eliza was born in 1843 and died in 1916. Son Samuel Latimer Coan was born 1846 and died in 1887. Fidelia died in September, 1872.
His second marriage was to Lydia Bingham, daughter of the Rev. Hiram Bingham I
(an earlier missionary) on October 13, 1873. He completed his autobiography in 1881, the year he died. His book was digitized in 1997 by his great-great grandson Edward J. Coan.
in June 1835, and sailed to Hilo, Hawaii in July, where they stayed most of the rest of their lives. He learned the Hawaiian Language
and helped educate the residents of the area and recruit them into the church. When the United States Exploring Expedition
visited Hilo in 1840–1841, Coan met the geologist James Dwight Dana
, and would send him observations of eruptions over the next four decades. These would help Dana develop the Hawaii hotspot
theory for the geologic evolution of the island chain.
His book includes descriptions of the heavy tropical rains, eruptions of the Kīlauea
volcano, earthquakes, and tsunami
s such as the one caused by the 1868 Hawaii earthquake
.
Coan was known as "the bishop of Kilauea" and his observations were invaluable to subsequent scientists. Both Fidelia and his second wife Lydia wrote a piece about the volcano, as well as his sons, Titus M. and Samuel.
Fidelia Coan was among the first American women to publish in a scientific journal: a 1852 article in the American Journal of Science
.
He directed the construction of Haili Church from 1855 to 1859. He visited the Marquesas Islands
in 1860 and 1867 and gave an extensive speaking tour of the United States with Fidelia Coan in 1870-71.
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
.
Early life and family
Titus Coan was born on February 1, 1801 in Killingworth, ConnecticutKillingworth, Connecticut
Killingworth is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The town's name can easily be confused with another Connecticut town, Killingly; or a Vermont ski area, Killington. The population was 6,018 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, the son of Gaylord Coan and Tamza Nettleton. In June, 1831, he entered the Auburn Theological Seminary
Auburn Theological Seminary
Auburn Theological Seminary was founded in 1818. Auburn Theological Seminary focuses on religious leadership development, movement-building, and research. Auburn is based in New York City and exists in covenant with the Presbyterian Church ....
in Auburn, New York
Auburn, New York
Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 27,687...
, and was ordained in April, 1833. In August of that year he sailed on a mission to Patagonia
Patagonia
Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
for the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was the first American Christian foreign mission agency. It was proposed in 1810 by recent graduates of Williams College and officially chartered in 1812. In 1961 it merged with other societies to form the United Church Board for World...
. In 1834 he returned and married Fidelia Church. In December 1834 they left on the merchant ship Hellespont, part of the seventh company from the American Board to the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
, then known as the "Sandwich Islands", arriving on June 6, 1835.
Their son Titus Munson Coan, born in 1836, became a physician in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and died in 1921. Daughter Harriet Fidelia was born in 1839 and died in 1906. Daughter Sarah Eliza was born in 1843 and died in 1916. Son Samuel Latimer Coan was born 1846 and died in 1887. Fidelia died in September, 1872.
His second marriage was to Lydia Bingham, daughter of the Rev. Hiram Bingham I
Hiram Bingham I
Hiram Bingham, formally Hiram Bingham I , was leader of the first group of Protestant missionaries to introduce Christianity to the Hawaiian islands.-Life:...
(an earlier missionary) on October 13, 1873. He completed his autobiography in 1881, the year he died. His book was digitized in 1997 by his great-great grandson Edward J. Coan.
Work
The Coans arrived in Honolulu, HawaiiHonolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
in June 1835, and sailed to Hilo, Hawaii in July, where they stayed most of the rest of their lives. He learned the Hawaiian Language
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
and helped educate the residents of the area and recruit them into the church. When the United States Exploring Expedition
United States Exploring Expedition
The United States Exploring Expedition was an exploring and surveying expedition of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding lands conducted by the United States from 1838 to 1842. The original appointed commanding officer was Commodore Thomas ap Catesby Jones. The voyage was authorized by Congress in...
visited Hilo in 1840–1841, Coan met the geologist James Dwight Dana
James Dwight Dana
James Dwight Dana was an American geologist, mineralogist and zoologist. He made pioneering studies of mountain-building, volcanic activity, and the origin and structure of continents and oceans around the world.-Early life and career:...
, and would send him observations of eruptions over the next four decades. These would help Dana develop the Hawaii hotspot
Hawaii hotspot
The Hawaii hotspot is the volcanic hotspot that created the Hawaiian Islands in the central Pacific Ocean, and is one of Earth's best-known and most heavily-studied hotspots....
theory for the geologic evolution of the island chain.
His book includes descriptions of the heavy tropical rains, eruptions of the Kīlauea
Kilauea
Kīlauea is a volcano in the Hawaiian Islands, and one of five shield volcanoes that together form the island of Hawaii. Kīlauea means "spewing" or "much spreading" in the Hawaiian language, referring to its frequent outpouring of lava. The Puu Ōō cone has been continuously erupting in the eastern...
volcano, earthquakes, and tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
s such as the one caused by the 1868 Hawaii earthquake
1868 Hawaii earthquake
The 1868 Hawaii earthquake is the largest recorded in the history of Hawaii island, causing a landslide and tsunami that led to 77 deaths. The earthquake occurred at 4 p.m. local time on April 2, 1868...
.
Coan was known as "the bishop of Kilauea" and his observations were invaluable to subsequent scientists. Both Fidelia and his second wife Lydia wrote a piece about the volcano, as well as his sons, Titus M. and Samuel.
Fidelia Coan was among the first American women to publish in a scientific journal: a 1852 article in the American Journal of Science
American Journal of Science
The American Journal of Science is the United States of America's longest-running scientific journal, having been published continuously since its conception in 1818 by Professor Benjamin Silliman, who edited and financed it himself...
.
He directed the construction of Haili Church from 1855 to 1859. He visited the Marquesas Islands
Marquesas Islands
The Marquesas Islands enana and Te Fenua `Enata , both meaning "The Land of Men") are a group of volcanic islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southern Pacific Ocean. The Marquesas are located at 9° 00S, 139° 30W...
in 1860 and 1867 and gave an extensive speaking tour of the United States with Fidelia Coan in 1870-71.
External links
- Haili Congregational Church official web site