– Biography:
– Born on March 11, 1788, in Orton, Westmoreland, to Jonathan and Elizabeth Metcalfe.
– Ordained as a minister in the Bible Christian Church by William Cowherd in 1811.
– Established the Philadelphia Bible Christian Church in 1817 with Reverend James Clark.
– Advocated for pacifism, temperance, abolitionism, and vegetarianism.
– Founded the American Vegetarian Society in 1850 and became its president in 1859.
– Publications:
– “Bible Testimony, on Abstinence from the Flesh of Animals as Food” (1840).
– “Memoir of the Rev. William Metcalfe, M.D. Late Minister of the Bible-Christian Church, Philadelphia” (1866).
– “Out of the Clouds: Into the Light” (1872).
– Notes:
– Among the group that traveled to the U.S. were Metcalfe’s wife and son.
– References:
– “History of the Philadelphia Bible-Christian Church: From 1817 to 1917” by The Maintenance Committee (1917).
– “Vegetarianism in North America” by University of British Columbia Press.
– “History of Vegetarianism” by Vegetarian Society.
– “History of Vegetarianism – Rev. William Metcalfe (1788-1862)” by International Vegetarian Union.
– “Cornflake Crusade” by The Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG).
– Legacy:
– Played a key role in the emergence of the American vegetarian movement.
– Advocated for vegetarianism, pacifism, temperance, and abolitionism.
– Was a prominent figure in the American Vegetarian Society.
– Published discourses posthumously.
– Influenced by and befriended leading advocates like William Alcott and Sylvester Graham.
William Metcalfe (March 11, 1788 – October 16, 1862) was a British-American minister in the Bible Christian Church, homeopathic physician, and activist for vegetarianism, pacifism, temperance and abolitionism. He was a prominent figure in the American vegetarian movement.
William Metcalfe | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | March 11, 1788 Orton, Westmoreland, England |
| Died | October 16, 1862 (aged 74) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Nationality | British-American |
| Occupation(s) | Minister, doctor, activist |
| Years active | 1811–1862 |
| Spouse | Susanna Wright
(m. 1810; died 1854) |
| Children | 1 |
Born in 1788, he was converted by William Cowherd in 1809, becoming a Bible Christian Church minister in 1811. He embarked on a journey to the United States in 1817, establishing the Philadelphia Bible Christian Church with Reverend James Clark. Metcalfe and his wife faced challenges due to the beliefs they promoted. Despite the church's financial struggles, Metcalfe actively engaged in preaching, education, and publications addressing societal issues. He played a pivotal role in founding the American Vegetarian Society in 1850 and succeeded William Alcott as its president in 1859. Metcalfe's influence extended through his friendship with leading advocates like Alcott and Sylvester Graham. Metcalfe died in 1872, at the age of 74.