Abraham Bishop
Abraham Bishop was an American farmer and economic populist. He was a vocal supporter of Thomas Jefferson and was known for his family's Federalist affiliation.
Biography
Education and career
Bishop's parents were Samuel and Mehetabel Basset Bishop; his father was a public official who had served as a mayor and judge in New Haven, Connecticut. He graduated from Yale University at 15 years old. At 22 Abraham joined the bar in 1785. Two years later he toured through Europe taking a trip. In 1789 Abraham came back to New Haven. He had been educationally fulfilled by great libraries and English debates. Abraham often criticized the new Constitution and the political power of the Christian religion. In 1790, Abraham became director of the American Academy and was the head of Hopkins School.During the early 1790s Bishop worked to improve and establish importance of education via efforts such as consolidating schools and introducing graded classrooms, as well as female education. In 1791 Abraham migrated to Boston, but would later return to New Haven by 1794. In Boston he continued to work as an educator and public speaker. Bishop also wrote for The Boston Argus under the pseudonym “John Paul Martin”. His articles focused on topics such as educational reform, his opposition to theatre, and race. Bishop used his father's influence to enter into politics and he became the clerk of the following areas: country court, probate court, and superior court. By 1800 Bishop was experiencing a lack of success, something his critics claimed was due to his ego and a sign of questionable character.
By mid to late 1800 Bishop began working with Connecticut Republicans, particularly vice-presidential candidate Aaron Burr, on campaign strategies. Bishop planned an address to the Phi Beta Kappa Society entitled "Connecticut Republicanism: An Oration on the extent and Power of Political Delusion", intending to promote controversy and attack the Federalist political and religious establishment in Connecticut. The society would later rescind this invitation after discovering Bishop's intentions, but he was then invited to read the speech at the White Haven church. The address would also be published in several newspapers. Thomas Jefferson was supportive of Bishop's speech, stating that it was "making wonderful progress, and is said to be the best Anti-republican eye-water which has ever yet appeared.” This speech was believed by Federalists to be the reason why Bishop's father Samuel received the appointment of New Haven collector through Jefferson in 1801. Bishop would assume this role after his father in 1803, a position he held until his removal in 1829 by President Andrew Jackson. Throughout all of this, Bishop continued to put out written work while also working with the Republican party.