John Glendy

John Glendy (sometimes spelled "Glendie" or "Glendye") was born near the city of Derry in Ulster province to Samuel and Mary Glendy, on 24 June 1755.[1] From an early age he was directed toward the ministry.

He graduated from the University of Glasgow and was ordained minister of Maghera, County Londonderry on 26 December 1778.[2]

Glendy was a United Irishman, and forced out for his duties as pastor of Maghera in the lead up to the Irish Rebellion of 1798, narrowly escaping with his life. With his wife and several children he went to the United States on the ship "Harmony" in 1798.[3]

Glendy became stated supply minister of the Presbyterian Churches of Bethel, Hebron and Staunton, Virginia. There he preached a sermon on the death of George Washington, on February 22, 1800; it was so well received it was reprinted into the 1820s and 1830s.[4]

In 1803, he then went on, with Thomas Jefferson's recommendation, to be pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, and while serving there was elected Chaplain of the Senate (1815). In 1822 he was given the Doctor of Divinity degree by the University of Maryland.[3] In 1832, John Brackenridge, D.D. became his associate pastor at Second Church and soon succeeded Glendy in the pastorate there, due to Glendy's declining health.

While still in Ireland Glendy married Elizabeth Cresswell.[3] They had six children, four daughters and two sons, including a son William M. and a daughter Jane.

Glendy died in Philadelphia at the home of his daughter on October 4, 1832. His body was buried in Baltimore.[5]