Career Jedidiah Morse

1 career

1.1 religious activities
1.2 geography
1.3 native american peoples
1.4 illuminati conspiracy theory
1.5 other endeavors
1.6 marriage , family

career

in summer of 1785 licensed preach, continued occupy himself teaching. became tutor @ yale in june 1786, but, resigning office, ordained on november 9, 1786, , settled in midway, georgia., remained until august of following year. spent winter of 1787/8 in new haven in geographical work, preaching on sundays vacant parishes in vicinity.

religious activities

he became pastor in charlestown, boston (across boston harbor) on april 30, 1789, served until 1820. among friends , numerous correspondents noah webster, benjamin silliman , jeremy belknap. in 1795 received degree of d.d. university of edinburgh. elected fellow of american academy of arts , sciences in 1796.

throughout life occupied religious controversy, , in upholding faith of new england church against assaults of unitarianism. persevering opposition liberal views of religion brought on him persecution affected naturally delicate health. active in 1804 in movement resulted in enlarging massachusetts general assembly of congregational ministers, , in 1805 unsuccessfully opposed, member of board of overseers, election of henry ware hollis chair of divinity @ harvard.

morse did toward securing foundation of andover theological seminary, successful efforts in preventing establishment of rival institution in newburg, had been projected hopkinsians. participated in organization of park street church in boston in 1808, when congregational churches of city, except old south church, had abandoned orthodox faith. in 1805 established panoplist purpose of illustrating , defending commonly received orthodoxy of new england, , continued sole editor 5 years. journal later became missionary herald.

geography

map of u. states, ca.1824. geography morse; engraving annin & smith

morse influenced educational system of united states. while teaching @ school young women, saw need geography textbook oriented forming nation. result skimpy , derivative, geography made easy (1784). followed american geography (1789), cited , copied. new editions of school textbooks , more weighty works came out annually, earning him informal title, father of american geography. postponed gazetteer work of 1784 bested joseph scott s gazetteer of united states in 1795. aid of noah webster , rev. samuel austin, morse published gazetteer universal geography of united states (1797).

native american peoples

morse rebutted racist views published in encyclopædia britannica concerning native american peoples, e.g., women slavish , skins , skulls thicker of other humans.

he took great interest in subject of civilizing , christianizing native americans, , in 1820 appointed secretary of war visit , observe various tribes on border, in order ascertain actual condition, , devise suitable means improvement. work occupied attention during 2 winters, , results of investigations embodied in report secretary of war on indian affairs (new haven, 1822).

illuminati conspiracy theory

morse known part in illuminati conspiracy theory in new england 1798-99. beginning may 9, 1798, morse delivered 3 sermons supporting john robison s book proofs of conspiracy. morse strong federalist , shared fears anti-federalists influenced alleged french illuminati. according conspiracy theory, responsible french revolution , americans feared excesses. official sources state morse s , robison s claims have been discredited. when presented conspiracy theory, president george washington reportedly said:

it not intention doubt doctrine of illuminati , principles of jacobinism had not spread in united states. on contrary, no 1 more satisfied of fact am. idea meant convey, was, did not believe lodges of free masons in country had, societies, endeavoured propagate diabolical tenets of first, or pernicious principles of latter (if susceptible of separation). individuals of them may have done it, or founder, or instrument employed found, democratic societies in united states, may have had these objects; , had separation of people government in view, evident questioned.

other endeavors

morse active member of massachusetts historical society, elected member of american antiquarian society in 1813, , member of various other literary , scientific bodies. made significant contributions dobson s encyclopædia, first encyclopedia published in united states after revolution. morse published twenty-five sermons , addresses on special occasions; compendious history of new england, elijah harris (charlestown, 1804); , annals of american revolution (hartford, 1824).

marriage , family

morse s gravestone @ grove street cemetery in new haven.

morse married elizabeth ann finley breese after starting pastor in charlestown. , wife had family of several children, including first child samuel f. b. morse, future painter , telegraphy pioneer. other sons sidney edwards morse published geography text, , richard cary morse (1795-1868) assisted father in geographical work , founded brother sidney new york observer.

the senior morse died in 1826 , buried @ grove street cemetery.