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RICHARD, Gabriel, clergyman, born in Saintes,
France, 15 October, 1767; died in Detroit, Michigan, 13 September, 1832. He was
related, on his mother's side, to Bossuet, bishop of Meaux. After receiving his
preliminary education in the college of his native town, he entered the seminary
of Angers in 1784, received minor orders in 1785, and, to qualify himself to
become a member of the Sulpician society, he repaired to their house at Issy,
near Paris, where he was ordained priest in 1791. He taught mathematics in the
college at Issy till April, 1792, when he embarked for the United States in
company with Dr. Marchal, afterward archbishop of Baltimore.
He engaged in missionary work in Illinois, and in 1798
was transferred to Detroit. His jurisdiction extended over the region that is
now embraced in the states of Michigan and Wisconsin. He opened a school in
Detroit in 1804, but the fire of the following year swept away this and other
buildings that he had erected. In 1807 he was invited by the governor of the
territory and other Protestant gentlemen to preach to them in the English
language, as there was at the time no Protestant clergyman in Detroit. He
accordingly held meetings every Sunday at noon in the council house, where he
delivered instructions on the general principles on which all Christians are
agreed.
He established a printing-press in Detroit--the first in
the territory--and began the publication of a journal in French, entitled the "Essais
du Michigan," in 1809. The irregularity of the mails led to its discontinuance
after some time, but he issued works of piety, controversy, and patriotism from
his press, which was for several years the only one in Michigan.
His advocacy of American principles and his denunciation
of the British at the beginning of the war of 1812 excited great indignation in
Canada, and he was soon afterward seized and imprisoned at Sandwich until the
close of the war, but was allowed to labor among the Indian allies of the
English, and he saved several American prisoners from torture and death.
On his return to Michigan he found the people in
destitution, and collected money with which he purchased provisions for all that
were in need. In 1817 he began the erection of a church in Detroit, which was
consecrated in 1819. In 1823 he was elected delegate to congress from the
territory of Michigan, being the first Roman Catholic priest to receive this
honor. He soon won the esteem of the members, especially of Henry Clay, who,
when the abbé did not make his meaning clear, owing to his defective
knowledge of English, frequently repeated his arguments to the house.
He obtained aid from the Federal government in opening
routes, building bridges and quays, and for other works of public utility. He
was again a candidate in 1826, but failed of re-election, and then engaged in a
great many plans, most of which he was not able to realize for want of
resources. He built several churches, and established Indian schools at Green
Bay, Arbre Croche, and St. Joseph's. He studied Sicard's method of teaching the
deaf and dumb, and delivered lectures in the normal school of Detroit, but he
was never able to open the asylum that he projected. He was about to lay the
foundation of a college at the beginning of the epidemic of Asiatic cholera in
1832. During its prevalence for three months he was almost constantly on his
feet night and day, until he was prostrated by the disease on 9 September. See a
life of him by Louis Guerin, entitled "Le martyr de la charite" (Paris, 1850).
Edited Appletons Encyclopedia, by John Looby Copyright © 2001
StanKlos.comTM
RICHARD, Gabriel, clergyman, b, in Saintes, France, 15 October, 1767; died in Detroit, Michigan, 13 September, 1832. He was related, on his mother's side, to Bossuet, bishop of Meaux. After receiving his preliminary education in the college of his native town, he entered the seminary of Angers in 1784, received minor orders in 1785, and, to qualify himself to become a member of the Sulpitian society, he repaired to their house at Issy, near Paris, where he was ordained priest in 1791. He taught mathematics in the college at Issy till April, 1792, when he embarked for the United States in company with Dr. Marchal, afterward archbishop of Baltimore. He engaged in missionary work in Illinois, and in 1798 was transferred to Detroit. His jurisdiction extended over the region that is now embraced in the states of Michigan and Wisconsin. He opened a school in Detroit in 1804, but the fire of the following year swept away this and other buildings that he had erected. In 1807 he was invited by the governor of the territory and other Protestant gentlemen to preach to them in the English language, as there was at the time no Protestant clergyman in Detroit. He accordingly held meetings every Sunday at noon in the council house, where he delivered instructions on the general principles on which all Christians are agreed. He established a printing-press in Detroit--the first in the territory--and began the publication of a journal in French, entitled the " Essais du Michigan," in 1809. The irregularity of the mails led to its discontinuance after some time, but he issued works of piety, controversy, and patriotism from his press, which was for several years the only one in Michigan. His advocacy of American principles and his denunciation of the British at the beginning of the war of 1812 excited great indignation in Canada, and he was soon afterward seized and imprisoned at Sandwich until the close of the war, but was allowed to labor among the Indian allies of the English, and he saved several American prisoners from torture and death. On his return to Michigan he found the people in destitution, and collected money with which he put-chased provisions for all that were in need. In 1817 he began the erection of a church in Detroit, which was consecrated in 1819. In 1823 he was elected delegate to congress from the territory of Michigan, being the first Roman Catholic priest to receive this honor. He soon won the esteem of the members, especially of Henry Clay, who, when the abbe did not make his meaning clear, owing to his defective knowledge of English, frequently repeated his arguments to the house. He obtained aid from the Federal government in opening routes, building bridges and quays, and for other works of public utility. He was again a candidate in 1826, but failed of re-election, and then engaged in a great many plans, most of which he was not able to realize for want of resources. He built several churches, and established Indian schools at Green Bay, Arbre Croche, and St. Joseph's. He studied Sicard's method of teaching the deaf and dumb, and delivered lectures in the normal school of Detroit, but he was never able to open the asylum that he projected. He was about to lay the foundation of a college at the beginning of the epidemic of Asiatic cholera in 1832. During its prevalence for three months he was almost constantly on his feet night and day, until he was prostrated by the disease on 9 September See a life of him by Louis Guerin, entitled "Le martyr de la charite" (Paris, 1850).
