Matthew Simpson

Matthew Simpson – Life, Ministry, and Legacy

Learn about Matthew Simpson (June 21, 1811 – June 18, 1884), the prominent American Methodist bishop, educator, abolitionist, and orator. Explore his life, work during the Civil War era, writings, and enduring influence.

Introduction: Who Was Matthew Simpson?

Matthew Simpson was a leading figure in 19th-century American Methodism: a bishop, educator, preacher, and public moral voice. Elected bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1852, he used his eloquence and leadership to shape the Methodist denomination, counsel national leaders (notably President Abraham Lincoln), and advocate for the Union during the Civil War.

Though not as widely known today, Simpson was among the most influential Methodist leaders of his era, sometimes dubbed the "High Priest of the Radical Republicans" because of his alignment with Northern moral and political causes.

Early Life and Family

Matthew Simpson was born on June 21, 1811 in Cadiz, Ohio (Harrison County).

He was the son of James Simpson (an immigrant of Scotch-Irish descent) and Sarah Tingley Simpson.

Simpson’s early formal education was limited. He was largely self-taught in basic subjects, foreign languages, printing, and law.

From about 1830 to 1833, he studied medicine under a local physician and began medical practice, though he eventually decided to devote himself to ministry.

In 1833, he was licensed as a preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Ministry, Education & Leadership

Pastoral and Academic Roles

After his licensing, Simpson served as pastor in a few Pennsylvania congregations: the Liberty Street Church in Pittsburgh (1835), and a church in Monongahela (then “Williamsport”) in 1836.

In 1837 he was ordained an elder.

Simpson also gravitated toward academia. He was appointed professor of natural science at Allegheny College (into which Madison College had merged) and in 1838 was elected professor and soon after became president of Indiana Asbury University (today DePauw University) in Greencastle, Indiana. He served as its president from 1839 to 1848.

From 1848 to 1852, Simpson edited the Western Christian Advocate, using it as a platform for temperance and anti-slavery advocacy.

Elevation to Bishop and National Influence

In 1852, at the Methodist Episcopal Church General Conference, Simpson was elected as bishop.

As bishop, he traveled extensively across the United States and presided over many annual conferences.

He also represented American Methodism abroad: in 1857, he was a delegate alongside Dr. John McClintock to the British Wesleyan Conference, and he traveled in Europe and the Holy Land.

In 1859, he relocated to Evanston, Illinois, to serve as president of the Garrett Biblical Institute.

He also held roles in seminary governance, such as trustee and board president of Drew Theological Seminary.

Role During the Civil War & Relationship with Lincoln

When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Simpson became a vocal supporter of the Union cause, calling upon Methodists in the North to stand with the national government.

Simpson had a close relationship with President Abraham Lincoln, who frequently sought his counsel.

After Lincoln’s assassination, Simpson delivered the funeral sermon in Springfield, Illinois, and had been with the family in their grief.

During the war, he delivered a speech known as the “Great War Speech,” repeated many times across the northern states to rally support.

Simpson was also asked by the Secretary of War to help with organizing the freedmen via the Freedmen’s Bureau, though he declined such formal appointment.

Writings, Sermons, and Intellectual Contribution

Simpson was prolific in publishing sermons, lectures, and works on Methodist history and doctrine.

Some of his notable works include:

• A Hundred Years of Methodism (1876)

• Cyclopaedia of Methodism (1858 and later editions)

• Lectures on Preaching (delivered before Yale’s theological department, 1879)

• Numerous sermons that circulated widely and were collected posthumously.

He often spoke eloquently of moral issues, Christian responsibility, and the social role of faith in public life.

Later Years, Death & Burial

In 1880, Simpson became ill during a trip to San Francisco but recovered in time to preach at the First Ecumenical Methodist Conference in London in 1881.

He continued to be active until his health declined. He died on June 18, 1884, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

He is buried in West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, near Philadelphia.

Legacy and Influence

• Denominational leader: Simpson is remembered as one of the foremost Methodist leaders of his time, helping to elevate Methodism’s moral voice and institutional maturity.

• Moral voice in politics: His advocacy during the Civil War and the Reconstruction period solidified him as a moral commentator who believed faith should engage public issues.

• Educator: His leadership roles in colleges and seminaries shaped generations of clergy and intellectuals.

• Oratorical art: His sermons and speeches were famed for rhetorical gravitas and appeal; many were reprinted and circulated widely.

• Historical memory: His name is less well-known to general audiences today, but within Methodist historiography he is still studied as a pivotal figure in 19th-century American Protestantism.