- Samuel Cornish
Samuel Eli Cornish (1795 – 1858) was anAfrican American abolitionist ,journalist , andPresbyterian minister.__TOC__
Early Life and Religious Activities
He was born in
Sussex County, Delaware , to free parents. In 1815, he moved toPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania . After moving toNew York City in 1821, Cornish organized a congregation of black Presbyterians. When he was ordained in 1822, this parish was officially established as the "New Demeter Street Presbyterian Church", making it the first black Presbyterian Church in New York City. He later ministered at the "First African Presbyterian Church" in Philadelphia, and "Emmanuel Church" in New York City. Cornish held high-ranking positions within theAmerican Bible Society , theUnion Missionary Society , and theAmerican Missionary Society .Activities in the Abolitionist Movement
Cornish was one of the founding members of the
American Anti-Slavery Society , remaining with the Society from 1833 to 1840. In 1840, Cornish left the American Anti-Slavery Society to join the newly formedAmerican and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society , largely over disputes withWilliam Lloyd Garrison over religion in the Abolitionist movement. Cornish used his position as a journalist and editor to inform the public on the issues involving Abolitionism.Activities as a Journalist
Samuel Cornish and
John Russwurm started the first black newspaper in 1827, calling it "Freedom's Journal ". Cornish left "Freedom's Journal" in 1829 to edit "Rights of All ", and later "Colored American " from 1837 to 1839. ...Family and Death
Samuel Cornish married Jane Livingstone in 1824 in New York city, where Samuel Cornish lived most of his life. The couple had four children: Sarah Matilda, William, Samuel, and Jane Sophia Tappan. Cornish died on November 6, 1858 in
Brooklyn, New York . He was 63 years old.External links
*cite web
last = Hodges
first = Graham Russell
title = Cornish, Samuel Eli
publisher = American National Biography Online
date = 2000
url = http://www.anb.org/articles/15/15-00147.html
accessdate = 2008-02-27
* [http://www.africawithin.com/bios/samuel_cornish.htm Africa Within: Samuel Cornish]
* [http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAScornish.htm Spartacus Educational: Samuel Cornish]
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