Bishop John Henry Hopkins

Hopkins, John Henry, Bishop of Vermont, was born in Dublin, 30th January 1792. He went to America with his parents in 1800. After receiving a classical education, he spent a year in a counting-house at Philadelphia, assisted Mr. Wilson the great ornithologist to prepare plates for one of his works, and about 1810 embarked in the manufacture of iron in Pennsylvania. He became bankrupt in 1817, turned his attention to the law, for which he had been originally intended, was admitted to the Bar at Pittsburg, and practised for a time. In November 1823 he entered the Protestant Episcopal ministry and became rector of Trinity Church, Pittsburg. He then studied architecture and built a new church. In 1831 he removed to Boston, and next year was consecrated Bishop of Vermont. He was afterwards involved in severe monetary difficulties by the failure of a boys' school opened under his responsibility. He took a prominent part in the Pan-Anglican Synod at Lambeth, and was made a D.C.L. of Oxford. He was a decided champion of the High Church party. Besides innumerable pamphlets, he published many books, amongst which may be mentioned: Christianity Vindicated (1833), Essay on Gothic Architecture (1836), Twelve Canzonets, words and music (1839), Refutation of Milner's End of Controversy (1854), Vindication of Slavery (1863). He died at Rock Point, Vermont, 9th January 1868, aged 75.

Sources

37a. Biographical Dictionary—American Biography: Francis S. Drake. Boston, 1876.