BEECHER, James Chaplin [1828-1886] -- American clergyman

He was educated under his father at Lane seminary, Cincinnati, Ohio, and after graduating at Dartmouth, in 1848, pursued his studies in theology at Andover, and was ordained a Congregational minister, May 10, 1856. He went as missionary to Canton, China, and was chaplain of the Seamen's Bethel in that place and in Hong Kong until 1861. He then returned to the United States to take part in the civil war, and was commissioned as chaplain of the 1st New York infantry, serving in 1861-'62. He was then commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the 141st N.Y. regiment, serving about a year, when he was transferred to the 35th U.S. colored troops, promoted as colonel and served from 1863 to 1866, when he was mustered out of the volunteer service as brevet brigadier-general. He returned to the ministry, and was settled in Oswego, N. Y., from 1867 to 1870; in Poughkeepsie from 1870 to [p.251] 1873, and then in Brooklyn in 1881-'82. During these years his health had gradually given way to mental disorder. It was hoped a course of the water-cure treatment would be of benefit, but it failed, his sufferings increased, and he ended his own life at Elmira, N.Y., Aug. 25, 1886. BDNA