John Bacon

Who was John Bacon?

John Bacon was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts.

John Bacon was born in Canterbury, Connecticut on April 5, 1738. Upon graduating from Princeton College he spent some time preaching in Somerset County, Maryland. On 25 September 1771 he and Mr. John Hunt were appointed as colleague pastors over the Old South Church in Boston, Massachusetts. Bacon ran into difficulties with his congregation over doctrinal issues and his preaching style, which was described as "argumentative... approaching the severe." He was dismissed from the Old South Church on 8 February 1775.

After leaving the church Bacon moved to Stockbridge, Massachusetts. He was a charter member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He served as a Magistrate, Representative, Associate and Presiding Judge of the Common Please, Member and President of the State Senate, and Member of Congress.

Bacon married Elizabeth, the widow of Alexander Cumming and daughter of Ezekiel Goldthwait, Register of the Deeds for Suffolk County, and died in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, October 25, 1820. Bacon is interred in the Stockbridge Cemetery.