William H. Brisbane
William H. Brisbane [1]
Brisbane, William H. (1), D.D.
a Baptist minister, was born near Charleston, S.C., in 1803. "His ancestors were of aristocratic English and Irish families, and he was the heir of large wealth." Bishop England of the Romish Church, and Reverend W.T. Brantly were his early instructors, and he was a graduate of the military school at Middletown, Connecticut, in 1822. Shortly after leaving this place he became a Christian, and immediately decided to study for the ministry. His social standing and ability as a preacher at once brought him into repute, and he was a welcome visitor in the best circles of society. Much of his time was spent in Washington and the principal cities of the country, where he was brought into friendly relations with some of the ablest statesmen in the land. He took an active part in the anti-slavery cause, and early in the history of that movement emancipated his own slaves, and provided homes for them in Ohio. He became a resident of Cincinnati, where he devoted himself most zealously to the work of the ministry. The last twenty-five years of his life were spent in Wisconsin, where, in Madison and other places, he preached with great power and success. His death occurred at Arena, Wisconsin, April 5, 1878. See Cathcart, Baptist Encyclop. page 135. (J.C.S.)
