The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Chase, Philander

CHASE, Philander, American Protestant Episcopal bishop: b. Cornish, N. H., 14 Dec. 1775; d. Jubilee College, Ill., 20 Sept. 1852. He was graduated at Dartmouth College in 1795, and was ordained priest by Bishop Provoost 10 Nov. 1799. After missionary work in New York State and rectorships at New Orleans, La., and Hartford, Conn., he set out as a missionary in districts west of the Alleghanies. In Ohio he organized various parishes, and in 1819 was consecrated the first bishop of Ohio. Between 18Z1 and 1831 he was for two years president of Cincinnati College, but chiefly engaged in perfecting plans for a theological seminary. He visited England, and through the influence of Lord Gambier and Lord Kenyon raised a large sum of money, $30,000, with which he founded the Theological Seminary and Kenyon College at Gambier, Ohio. In 1831 he resigned his bishopric and the presidency of the college and seminary, removed to Michigan 1832, was chosen bishop of Illinois 1835; again visited England and raised $10,000 with which he founded Jubilee College, Peoria County, Ill. Upon the death of Bishop Griswold in 1843, Bishop Chase became presiding bishop of the Church. He wrote ‘A Plea for the West’ (1826); ‘The Star in the West, or Kenyon College’ (1828); ‘Defense of Kenyon College’ (1831); ‘A Plea for Jubilee’ (1835); ‘Reminiscences: An Autobiography’ (1848).