Alexander Campbell | Spokesman for a Movement

Life and Times of Alexander Campbell

Sept. 12, 1788 – ​Born in Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. Educated by his father.
Assisted his father as a tutor at his academy
1808 – ​Departed for America, but was shipwrecked off the coast of Scotland.
When his ship wrecked, he promised to become a minister if the Lord would save him and his family.

1808-1809 ​– Studied at the University of Glasgow in Scotland.
1809​ – Arrived in America and read his father’s Declaration and Address​
Agreed to live by the principles of this document.
1810​ – Preached his first sermon – Great success!
1811 – ​Married Margaret Brown (died 1827)
1811​ – He and his father formed of the Brush Run Church in Western Pennsylvania.
Thomas served as elder, Alexander served as preacher.
From its beginning, this church offered the Lord’s Supper on a weekly basis.

1812 – ​Accepted immersion as the New Testament form of baptism and was baptized.
1813​ – Alexander’s father-in-law, John Brown, gave him a farm to keep the family from moving out of the area.
1816​ – Preached his most famous sermon, “The Sermon on the Law”
1818 ​– Opened the Buffalo Seminary in his home – Closed the seminary in 1822

PROMINENT DEBATER & DEFENDER OF THE FAITH
Successfully discussed numerous religious topics with numerous opponents:
1820 – ​Debated Presbyterian John Walker.
1823​ – Debated Presbyterian W. L.McCalla
1829 ​– Debated Skeptic Robert Owen
1827 ​– Debated Roman Catholic BishopJohn B. Purcell
1843 ​– Debated Presbyterian Nathan L.Rice

Became a prolific publisher and writer:
1823-1830 – ​Monthly Periodical: Christian Baptist
1830-1866​ – Monthly Periodical: Millennial Harbinger
1826 –​ First modern translation of the New Testament in the U.S.: ​Living Oracles
1831​ – “Delusions,” the first scholarly review of the newly published ​Book of Mormon

1828​ – Married Selina Bakewell after the death of his first wife, Margaret Brown
1829 ​– Served in the Virginia Constitutional Convention.
1841 ​– Opened Bethany College and served as President.
1847 ​– Toured Great Britain with massive crowds – Briefly imprisoned in Scotland.

1849 ​– American Christian Missionary Society formed with Alexander Campbell aspresident.
1857 ​– Preaching to Washington, D.C., crowd that included President Buchanan
(& had private dinner with President)

March 4, 1866 ​– Died at his home in Bethany, West Virginia.