JACOBS, Michael, educator, born in Waynesborough, Pennsylvania, 18 January, 1808; died in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 22 July, 1871. He was graduated at Jefferson college in 1828, and, after teaching in Maryland, went to Gettysburg to assist his brother David in 1829, taking the professorship of mathematics and natural sciences. On the organization of Pennsylvania college in 1832, he became professor of mathematics and natural science, in which post he continued until 1865, when he resigned the chair of natural science. A year later he was made emeritus professor. He was licensed to preach in 1834, and received the degree of D.D. from Jefferson and Wittenberg colleges in 1858. He invented a process of canning fruit about 1845. In 1846 he read a paper on "Indian Summer" before the Society for the advancement of science. He published "Notes on the Rebel Invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania, and the Battle of Gettysburg" (Philadelphia, 1863), contributed an article on the same subject to the "United Service Magazine," published articles on theological subjects in the "Evangelical Review," and scientific papers in the "Linnaean Record and Journal," edited the last-named periodical for two years, was for more than thirty years a contributor to the publications of the Franklin institute in Philadelphia and the Smithsonian institution in Washington, and left manuscript "Lectures on Meteorology," containing the fruits of his independent observations in that science.--
Michael Jacobs (18 January 1808 – 22 July 1871) was an American educator, Lutheran theologian and early historian of the Battle of Gettysburg.
Jacobs was born at Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, the son of Professor Michael and Juliana M (Eyster) Jacobs. He graduated from Jefferson College in 1828. Jacobs served as professor of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Pennsylvania College from that institutions founding in 1832 until being made an emeritus professor in 1866. He was then appointed professor of systematic theology in Mount Airy Seminary in Philadelphia, where he also assumed the office of dean in 1894. In 1920, he became President of the Seminary when the office of dean was abolished.
He served as president of his church's board of foreign missions (1902–07), of the General Conference of Lutherans (1899, 1902, 1904), of the American Society of Church History (1907–08), and of the Pennsylvania German Society (1910–11).
Besides translating various German theological works and editing the Lutheran Church Review (1882-96), a Lutheran Commentary (1895-98), and a Lutheran Encyclopedia (1899), he wrote:
- The Lutheran Movement in England (1891)
- History of the Lutheran Church in America (1893)
- Elements of Religion (1894)
- Life of Martin Luther (1898)
- The German Emigration to America, 1709- 40 (1899)
- Summary of the Christian Faith (1905)
References edit
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Gilman, D. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.
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External links edit
- Wolf, Edmund Jacob. The Lutherans in America; a story of struggle, progress, influence and marvelous growth. New York: J.A. Hill, 1889.
- Henry Eyster Jacobs 1844-1932 (The Cyber Hymnal)
Further reading edit
- Further biographical information (with portrait) is available in The Philadelphia Seminary biographical record, 1864-1923.