About
American author, Congregationalist and Unitarian clergyman who was known as the "apostle of Unitarianism." He was a leading figure in the development of New England Transcendentalism and of organized attempts in the U.S. to eliminate slavery, drunkenness, poverty, and war.
Before Fame
He studied theology at Harvard University from 1795 to 1798.
Trivia
He was a successful preacher in various churches in the Boston area. From 1803, until his death he was minister of the Federal Street Church, Boston. He wrote for liberal Boston periodicals, one of which was The Christian Disciple. In 1835, he wrote a book titled Slavery. He was never an ardent abolitionist on slavery, but had addressed it at various times.
Family Life
His parents were Lucy Ellery and William Channing. He was a grandson of William Ellery, a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence In 1814, he married Ruth Gibbs and they had a son, William Francis Channing.
Associated With
In 1837, he published a pamphlet, in the form of an open letter to Senator Henry Clay, opposing the annexation of Texas.
