Richard Furman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Furman
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| Born | 9 October 1755 Esopus, New York, United States
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| Died | 25 August 1825 (aged 69) Charleston, South Carolina, United States
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Baptist pastor |
| Known for | First president of the Triennial Convention |
Richard Furman (born 1755, died 1825) was an important leader for the Baptist church in the United States. He was the first president of the Triennial Convention, which was the first national group for Baptists. He also led the South Carolina State Baptist Convention.
Early Life and Education
Richard Furman was born in Esopus, New York. He grew up in Charleston, South Carolina. Even though he didn't go to many schools, he learned a lot. His father taught him math and science. Richard also taught himself several languages, like Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. He studied history, religion, and medicine on his own.
When he was 16, in 1771, Furman became a Baptist. He started preaching at a very young age. Two years later, he became a pastor at the High Hills church.
During the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), Furman wanted to join the army. But people convinced him that his speaking skills would be more helpful. He used his voice to gain support for the American cause. When British forces took over Charleston in 1780, a reward was offered for his capture. He had to leave the state to stay safe.
Leading the Baptist Church
After the war, Furman strongly supported freedom of worship. He believed that all churches should be treated equally. In 1786, he became the pastor of the Charleston Baptist Church. He stayed in this job for the rest of his life.
Furman helped young ministers get an education. He also helped fund missionary work in South Carolina. He was a founder of the Charleston Bible Society and the Religious Tract Society. These groups helped spread religious writings.
In 1792, Brown University gave him an honorary master's degree. In 1800, they gave him a Doctor of Divinity Degree.
Furman helped organize the first meeting of the Triennial Convention in 1814. This meeting was held in Philadelphia. He was chosen as its first president and was re-elected in 1817. He made sure that educating future ministers was a main goal of the convention. He also encouraged Luther Rice to start Columbian College, which is now George Washington University.
In 1821, Furman helped create the South Carolina State Baptist Convention. He was elected its president and served until he died. The first Baptist college in the South, Furman University, was named after him. It was founded in 1826.
Family Life
Richard Furman was married twice. His first wife was Elizabeth Haynsworth. They married in 1772 and had four children. Elizabeth passed away in 1787.
In 1789, Furman married Dorothea Burn. They had thirteen children together. One of his sons, James Clement Furman, also became a Baptist minister. James Clement Furman later became the first president of Furman University.
Views on Slavery
When Richard Furman was young, he was against slavery. However, as he got older, he became a slave owner. He came to believe that slavery was acceptable. In 1822, he wrote a paper called "Exposition of the Views of the Baptists Relative to the Coloured Population of the United States." This paper explained the arguments that people in the Southern United States used to defend slavery. Slavery was finally ended in the United States in 1865 by the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
See also
