John Bacon

American clergyman and legislator
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Quick Facts
Born:
April 9, 1738, Canterbury, Conn., U.S.
Died:
Oct. 25, 1820, Stockbridge, Mass. (aged 82)

John Bacon (born April 9, 1738, Canterbury, Conn., U.S.—died Oct. 25, 1820, Stockbridge, Mass.) was an American clergyman, legislator, and judge who was an early advocate of civil and religious liberty. After graduating from the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University) in 1765, Bacon preached in Delaware. In 1771 he was named minister of Old South Church in Boston, Mass., where, however, his views on certain points of theological doctrine proved unacceptable to the members of the church, and he was dismissed in 1775. Thereafter he lived on a farm in Stockbridge. Though not a lawyer, Bacon served as ...(100 of 174 words)