John Henry Hobart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Right Reverend John Henry Hobart D.D. |
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| 3rd Bishop of New York | |
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| Church | Episcopal Church |
| Diocese | New York |
| Elected | February 27, 1816 |
| In Office | 1816–1830 |
| Predecessor | Benjamin Moore |
| Successor | Benjamin T. Onderdonk |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | April 5, 1801 (priest) |
| Consecration | May 29, 1811 by William White |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 14, 1775 Philadelphia, Colony of Pennsylvania |
| Died | September 12, 1830 (aged 54) Auburn, New York, United States |
| Buried | Trinity Church Cemetery |
| Nationality | American |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Parents | Enoch Hobart & Hannah Pratt |
| Spouse | Mary Goodwin Chandler |
| Previous post | Assistant Bishop of New York (1811-1816) |
| Alma mater | University of Pennsylvania (1790 - 1791) and College of New Jersey (1792 - 1796) |
| Sainthood | |
| Feast day | September 12 |
| Venerated in | Episcopal Church |
John Henry Hobart (born September 14, 1775 – died September 12, 1830) was an important leader in the Episcopal Church in the United States. He served as the third bishop of New York from 1816 to 1830. Bishop Hobart worked hard to expand the Episcopal Church, especially in upstate New York. He also helped start two important schools: the General Theological Seminary in New York City and Geneva College (now known as Hobart and William Smith Colleges) in Geneva.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Family History
John Henry Hobart was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 14, 1775. His father, Captain Enoch Hobart, passed away when John was very young. His family had a long history in America, with his great-grandfather, Peter Hobart, moving from England in 1635.
Education and Early Studies
When John was nine, he attended the Episcopal Academy. He studied classic subjects there. Later, he went to the University of Pennsylvania and then transferred to the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). He graduated in 1793. After college, Hobart worked as a tutor at Princeton while studying theology. He learned from Bishop William White, who was a key figure in the Episcopal Church.
Becoming a Church Leader
John Henry Hobart became a deacon in 1798 and a priest in 1801. He served in churches in Pennsylvania and New Jersey before moving to Trinity Church in New York City in 1803. There, he became an assistant minister.
In 1811, Hobart was chosen to be the assistant bishop of New York. This meant he would become the main bishop when the current one, Bishop Benjamin Moore, retired or passed away. Bishop Moore was not well, so Hobart took on many responsibilities for the diocese. He officially became the Bishop of New York in 1816.
As bishop, Hobart was very active. He tried to visit every church in his diocese each year. He was known for being a strong speaker and preacher. He also supported missions to the Oneida Indians and helped some of the Oneida move from New York to Wisconsin.
Founding Schools and Promoting the Church
Bishop Hobart was one of the people who started the General Theological Seminary. This school trained new priests for the Episcopal Church. He became its first dean and a professor there.
Hobart also believed that upstate New York needed a college. In 1820, he chose Geneva, a small village, as the location for his new school. The first building for Geneva College was built in 1822. This college was later renamed Hobart College in 1852, in honor of him. Today, it is part of Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
Bishop Hobart was a supporter of what was called the "High Church Movement" within the Episcopal Church. This movement emphasized the church's connection to early Christian traditions and the importance of baptism and the line of bishops going back to the apostles.
Travels and Final Years
From 1823 to 1825, Bishop Hobart traveled to Europe because his health was failing. When he returned, he gave a famous sermon comparing the United States to European countries, especially England.
Death and Lasting Impact
Bishop John Henry Hobart passed away in Auburn, New York, on September 12, 1830. He is buried at Trinity Churchyard in Manhattan, close to the General Theological Seminary he helped create. The Episcopal Church remembers Bishop Hobart every year on September 12.
Several places were named after him, showing his lasting impact. The village of Hobart, New York was named in his honor in 1828. Also, the Church of the Holy Apostles in Oneida, Wisconsin, was dedicated to his memory. The nearby town of Hobart in Brown County, Wisconsin, was named for him in 1908.
Key Church Leaders Who Consecrated Him
- William White, who was the first and fourth Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church and the first Bishop of Pennsylvania.
- Samuel Provoost, the third Presiding Bishop and the first Bishop of New York.
- Abraham Jarvis, the second Bishop of Connecticut.
His Published Works
Bishop Hobart wrote several books and guides for the church, including:
- A Clergyman's Companion (1805)
- A Companion for the Altar (1804)
- A Companion to the Book of Common Prayer (1805)
- Festivals and Fasts (1804)
See also
- List of bishops of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America
