James W.C. Pennington

James W.C. Pennington (1809 - 1870) was an African American orator, minister, and abolitionist.

Pennington was born a slave in Washington County, Maryland. After escaping to Littlestown, Pennsylvania, Pennington moved to New York in 1828. A blacksmith by trade, he settled in New Haven, Connecticut, and audited classes at Yale Divinity School from 1834 to 1839 - becoming the first black man to attend classes at Yale. He was subsequently ordained and became a teacher, abolitionist, and author.

He wrote "The Origin and History of the Colored People" in 1841, which has been called the first history of African Americans, and a slave narrative in 1850, "The Fugitive Blacksmith".

In 1849 the University of Heidelberg awarded him an honorary doctorate of divinity.

References

*"Yale Alumni Magazine", January/February 2006, Vol LXIX, No. 3."Pioneers" by Judith Ann Schiff

External links

* [http://www.sun.ac.za/forlang/bergman/real/amistad/history/msp/bio_penn.htm Biography: James W.C. Pennington]
* [http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USASpennington.htm Spartacus Educational: James W.C. Pennington]
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