The Most Famous Man in America: The Biography of Henry Ward Beecher by Debby Applegate

Henry Ward Beecher was one of the most famous men in America for over fifty years. He was a religious leader and a powerful and influential speaker. He was influential in the abolitionist movement and helped organize the United States Sanitary Commission during the Civil War. He was also one of the leading figures of the early feminist movement and a popular lecturer, author and newspaper editor. The Biography of Henry Ward Beecher by Debby Applegate is a comprehensive and detailed work that presents a vivid portrait of the man and his life.

Born on June 24, 1932 in Litchfield, Connecticut, Henry Ward Beecher was the eighth of twelve children born to Lyman and Roxana Beecher, who were devout Calvinists. As a young man, Beecher studied at Amherst College and the Yale Divinity School, and was soon ordained as a minister. He moved to Brooklyn in 1847 to take over the pulpit of the Plymouth Church, and soon became one of the most famous preachers in the United States.

Beecher was an active abolitionist and often spoke out against slavery. He helped organize the United States Sanitary Commission during the Civil War and made numerous trips to Europe to raise money and obtain supplies and medicine for the Union cause. He also frequently lectured on religious and social topics, and was an early advocate of women's rights.

In addition to his preaching, Beecher was active in the literary world. He edited several newspapers, including the New York Independent and the Brooklyn Daily-Eagle and wrote several books, including Life Thoughts, Proverbs from Plymouth and Autobiography. He also founded several intellectual and educational organizations and was a professor at the Union Theological Seminary in New York City.

Beecher was a popular lecturer and speaker throughout the United States, Europe and Great Britain. His topics included themes of religion, philosophy and reform. He was an advocate for social justice, a strong supporter of women's rights, and an outspoken critic of lynching and racial discrimination. Although his views sometimes invited criticism, Beecher was well-respected and highly influential.

Beecher's reputation, however, was somewhat sullied in 1874 when he was accused of adultery in a widely reported trial. Although he was acquitted, the scandal diminished his public standing and influence. He remained a respected speaker and writer until his death in 1893.

The Biography of Henry Ward Beecher, by Debby Applegate, is an engaging and deeply detailed account of the life and influence of this venerable and complex individual. Drawing upon both primary and secondary sources, Applegate has constructed a vivid portrait of the man, presenting an honest and sympathetic account of his life and work. This work is an essential source for any student of American religious, social and intellectual history.