Francis Daniel Pastorius
A scholarly German polymath who founded the first German settlement in America and penned a landmark protest against slavery.
1651–1720 (age 69)·German-born American educator, lawyer, poet, and public official·Birthday: September 26
Biography
Francis Daniel Pastorius drafted the Germantown Quaker Petition Against Slavery in 1688, the first organized protest against slavery by a religious body in the English colonies. Born in Germany in 1651, he was a lawyer, poet, and teacher. He led Mennonite and Quaker families to William Penn's colony and laid out the settlement of Germantown six miles from Philadelphia. The community became a gateway for tens of thousands of German immigrants. Pastorius wrote extensive letters, poems, and a description of Pennsylvania. He died in 1720.
#1 When Francis Was Born
The biggest hits of 1651
Francis's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1651Born
1656Started school
1664Became a teenager
1667Could drive
1669Could vote
1672Turned 21
1681Turned 30
1691Turned 40
1701Turned 50
1711Turned 60
1720Died at 69
Key Achievements
- Founded and served as the first mayor of Germantown, Pennsylvania, in 1683, establishing the first permanent German settlement in America.
- Authored the 1688 Germantown Quaker Petition Against Slavery, the first formal protest against slavery made by a religious group in the English colonies.
- Wrote 'Positive Information from America,' a detailed and promotional guide for prospective German immigrants about life in Pennsylvania.
- Served in multiple public roles, including as a teacher, lawyer, and clerk for the Germantown court, helping to govern the young settlement.
Did You Know?
He was a polyglot, reportedly fluent in at least seven languages including Latin, Greek, Dutch, French, and English.
His extensive personal library was one of the largest in the early American colonies.
He taught at the first school in Germantown and is considered a pioneer of education in Pennsylvania.
The name 'Germantown' was his suggestion, reflecting the origins of its settlers.
“We shall build a settlement where our children may live in peace and liberty.”
