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{{Short description|American clergyman and diplomat (1850–1937)}}
'''William Henry (Harrison) Heard''' (25 June 1850–12 September 1937) was a clergyman of the [[African Methodist Episcopal]] Church who served as [[United States Ambassador to Liberia]] from 1895 through 1898. [[File:WmHeard.jpg|thumb|William H. Heard]]▼
{{Infobox person
| NAMEname = Heard, William H. Heard▼
| image = Hon. William H. Heard.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1850|6|25|mf=y}}
| PLACEbirth_place OF BIRTH = [[Elbert County, Georgia]], U.S.▼
| death_date = {{death date and age|1937|9|12|1850|6|25|mf=y}}
| death_place = [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| nationality =
| alma_mater =
| other_names =
| occupation = Minister, U.S. Ambassador to Liberia
| years_active =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse = {{marriage|Josephine Delphine Henderson|1882}}
}}▼
 
▲'''William Henry (Harrison) Heard''' (June 25, June1850 1850–12– September 12, 1937) was a clergyman of the [[African Methodist Episcopal]] Church who served as [[United States Ambassador to Liberia]] from 1895 through 1898. [[File:WmHeard.jpg|thumb|William H. Heard]]
===Early life===
 
==Early life, family and education==
Heard was born a slave in [[Elbert County, Georgia]], some three miles from the small settlement of Longstreet. Although a slave, his father, George W. Heard (b. circa 1813)<ref>1870 census, Elberton, Georgia:"George Heard; 57; male; mulatto; wheelwright;b. Georgia;(personal estate)$50; unable to read; unable to write; U.S. citizen" - www.familysearch.org</ref> was a skilled workman, first a blacksmith and later a wheelwright and carpenter. Of mixed race, George was the son of an unknown mother and, reputedly, a white man named Thomas Heard:<ref name="Autobio"/> (probably Thomas Jefferson Heard, son of [[Stephen Heard]]). William Heard's mother was Pathenia or Parthenia<ref>see death certificate of George Clarke Heard, 25 September 1920, Clarke, Georgia, U.S.A. [http://www.familysearch.org] </ref>Galloway (d. circa 1859).<ref name="Autobio">''From Slavery to the Bishopric in the A.M.E. Church, An Autobiography'' by William H. Heard</ref> She was a farm hand skilled in plowing, but as she was also valued by her owners as a "breeder" (a woman who regularly produced children), she was allowed to work close to her own cabin in order to nurse her children frequently.<ref name="Autobio"/> As they were slaves, Heard's parents could not enter into a legally-recognized marriage. Also, as they belonged to separate estates some three miles apart they could not live together; but his father was given permission by his owners to visit his family twice a week during the time his labor was not required (overnight, Wednesday-Thursday: Sunday).<ref name="Autobio"/>.▼
 
William Heard was born into slavery about 1843 in [[Elbert County, Georgia]], some three miles from the small settlement of Longstreet. His father was George W. Heard (b. circa 1813),<ref>1870 census, Elberton, Georgia:"George Heard; 57; male; mulatto; wheelwright;b. Georgia;(personal estate)$50; unable to read; unable to write; U.S. citizen" - www.familysearch.org</ref> recorded in the 1870 census as of [[mixed race]]. Before emancipation, he was an enslaved skilled workman: he worked first as a blacksmith and later as a wheelwright and carpenter. George did not know the name of his mother. His biological father was said to have been a white man named Thomas Heard,<ref name="Autobio"/> (probably Thomas Jefferson Heard, son of planter [[Stephen Heard]]).
Heard, with his mother and three siblings Millie, Beverley and Cordelia<ref>A last brother, George Clark Heard, was born later:''From Slavery to the Bishopric in the A.M.E. Church, An Autobiography'' by William H. Heard</ref>, was sold twice as a child. When he was nine and already working as a servant in the household where his mother was a cook, both she and his elder sister died of typhoid fever. At age ten Heard was set to work as a plow boy on a farm. At fifteen, having been assaulted by a drunken "boss man" and becoming aware of the potential change in his legal status brought about by the Civil War, he fled and began living with his father, who kept a wheelwright's shop in [[Elberton, Georgia|Elberton]].<ref name="Autobio"/>
 
▲William Heard's mother was bornan aenslaved slave in [[Elbert Countywoman, Georgia]],Pathenia someor three miles from the small settlement of Longstreet. Although a slave, his father, George W. Heard (b. circa 1813)Parthenia<ref>1870 census, Elberton, Georgia[http:"George Heard; 57; male; mulatto; wheelwright;b. Georgia;(personal estate)$50; unable to read; unable to write; U.S. citizen" - //www.familysearch.org</ref> was a skilled workman, first a blacksmith and later a wheelwright and carpenter. Of mixed race, George was the son of an unknown mother and, reputedly, a white man named Thomas Heard:<ref name="Autobio"/> (probably Thomas Jefferson Heard, son of [[Stephen Heard]]). William Heard's mother was Pathenia or Parthenia<ref>seeSee death certificate of George Clarke Heard, 25 September 1920, Clarke, Georgia, U.S.A. [http://www.familysearch.org] </ref> Galloway (d. circa 1859).<ref name="Autobio">''From Slavery to the Bishopric in the A.M.E. Church, An Autobiography'' by William H. Heard</ref> She was a farm hand skilled in plowing, but as she was also valued by her owners as a "breeder" (a woman who regularly produced children),. sheShe was allowed to work close to her own cabin in order to nurse and care for her children frequently.<ref name="Autobio"/> As they were slaves, Heard's parents couldwere notprohibited enterfrom intolegally a legally-recognized marriage. Also, as they belongedwere toheld by planters on separate estates some three miles apart, theyso could not live together;. butGeorge his fatherHeard was given permission by his owners to visit his family twice a week during the timewhen his labor was not required (overnight, Wednesday-Thursday: Sunday).<ref name="Autobio"/>.
Although literacy was forbidden to slaves prior to the Civil War, Heard attended Sunday School and trained his memory by learning large amounts of the Bible by rote.<ref name="Autobio"/> After emancipation, while living with his father, he paid a white schoolboy ten cents a lesson to teach him basic literacy.<ref name="Autobio"/> He also began working for a local farmer, on terms of five dollars a month and the opportunity, each night, of reciting back to him a lesson Heard had learned over lunch. This farmer was William H. Heard, from whom Heard then took his name (he had previously been known as "Henry").<ref name="Autobio"/> Heard then attempted a similar arrangement with another local farmer, but, dissatisfied with the education he was receiving, he returned and began working at his father's shop.<ref name="Autobio"/> By this time a school had been set up in Elberton which he could attend.<ref name="Autobio"/> By following every opportunity for educational advancement which offered itself, Heard in time achieved a teaching qualification and a place at university.<ref name="Autobio"/> He attended the [[University of South Carolina]] until 1877, when all black students were removed by the state government.
 
As a young child Heard was sold twice with his family: his mother and three siblings Millie, Beverley and Cordelia. Their youngest brother, George Clark Heard, was born later.<ref name="Autobio"/> When he was nine and working as a servant in the household where his mother was a cook, both she and his elder sister died of [[typhoid fever]]. At age ten Heard was set to work as a plow boy on a farm.
===Career===▼
 
At fifteen, having been assaulted by a drunken "boss man" and becoming aware of the potential ending of his slave status after the Civil War, he fled and began living with his father. He kept a wheelwright's shop in [[Elberton, Georgia|Elberton]].<ref name="Autobio"/> Although slaves were prohibited from learning to read and write, Heard attended Sunday school and trained his memory by learning large amounts of the Bible by rote.<ref name="Autobio"/>
In the 1870s Heard was elected to the state legislature in [[South Carolina]], as a Republican representing [[Abbeville County, South Carolina|Abbeville County]], but was removed when the Democrats achieved power. Because of his political interests he was not allowed to find work as a teacher in the state.<ref name="Autobio"/> He later completed his education in [[Philadelphia]].<ref name="Autobio"/> ▼
 
===Post-Emancipation===
In 1878 Heard, whose parents had followed Baptist and Methodist faiths,<ref name="Enc">Wright, Richard R., Centennial Encyclopaedia of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Book Concern of the A. M. E. Church, Philadelphia, 1916, p.111</ref>joined the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He rose rapidly through its ranks, being ordained elder in 1883<ref name="Enc"/> and elected Bishop in 1908.<ref name="Enc"/> As well as being a preacher he was an active organizer and fundraiser, holding appointments to numerous missions, and from 1888 attending all A.M.E. general conferences as delegate.<ref name="Enc"/>He also continued to press for equal treatment for all citizens, regardless of color. In 1887 Heard launched a legal challenge against the Georgia Railroad Company over its practice of providing separate and inferior accommodation for blacks while charging them full prices.<ref>''New York Times'', 30 July, 1887:"No "Jim Crow cars". The Georgia railroad demands relief of the Commission."</ref> ▼
After emancipation, while living with his father, Heard paid a white schoolboy ten cents a lesson to teach him basic literacy.<ref name="Autobio"/> He also began working for a local farmer, earning five dollars a month. He also arranged to recite back to him a lesson Heard had learned over lunch. This farmer was William H. Heard, from whom Heard took his surname (he had previously been known only as "Henry").<ref name="Autobio"/> Heard attempted a similar arrangement with another local farmer.
 
But, dissatisfied with the education he was receiving, he returned to his father's shop to work.<ref name="Autobio"/> By this time a school had been set up in Elberton for freedmen and their children, which he could attend.<ref name="Autobio"/> By following every opportunity for education, Heard in time achieved a teaching qualification and a place at the state university.<!-- This seems unusual as he wasn't living in SC --><ref name="Autobio"/> He attended the [[University of South Carolina]] until 1877, when white Democrats regained control of the state government and prohibited black students from attending the flagship college.
With the help of [[Henry McNeal Turner]] he obtained his diplomatic appointment, being nominated Minister Resident and Consul General to Liberia by President [[Grover Cleveland]] on 21 February 1895.<ref>''New York Times'', 22 February 1895</ref> While in Monrovia, Heard also served as superintendent of the Liberia Annual Conference of the A.M.E. Church and built the first A.M.E. church in the city, the Eliza Turner Memorial Chapel. Before returning to America he also toured Europe, observing during a visit to the British Museum that the mummies of Ancient Egypt were clearly of an African, not a Caucasian, race. He also noted that racial prejudice was less strong in France than in any English-speaking country, and seemed non-existent in Switzerland.<ref name="Autobio"/> ▼
 
▲===Career===
Heard continued to be active in the affairs of his church for the rest of his life, attending the second World Conference on Faith and Order in Edinburgh, Scotland, only the month before his death. On reports circulating in the press that he had been refused accommodation by one Edinburgh hotel on grounds of color, he was invited to meet the Chancellor of the Exchequer, [[John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon|Sir John Simon]], and his wife, at another. The [[William Temple (bishop)|Archbishop of York]] also offered him hospitality.<ref>"Invitation To Faith Conference." ''The Times'' [London, England] 9 August 1937: p. 12. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 19 Aug. 2012.</ref>▼
 
▲In the 1870s during the [[Reconstruction Era of the United States|Reconstruction era]] Heard was elected to the state legislature in [[South Carolina]], serving in the [[South Carolina Senate]] from 1876 to 1877 as a Republican representing [[Abbeville County, South Carolina|Abbeville County]], but was removed when the Democrats achieved power. Because of his political interests he was not allowed to find work as a teacher in the state.<ref name="Autobio"/> He later completed his education in [[Philadelphia]].<ref name="Autobio"/>
===Marriage===▼
Heard married Josephine Delphine Henderson, of Salisbury, N.C., in 1882.<ref name="Enc"/><ref>Josephine D. Henderson married William Henry Heard, 21 January 1882 in Clarke, Georgia. [http://www.familysearch.org]</ref>▼
 
▲In 1878 Heard, whose parents had followed Baptist and Methodist faiths,<ref name="Enc">Wright, Richard R., ''Centennial Encyclopaedia of the African Methodist Episcopal Church,'' Book Concern of the A. M. E. Church, Philadelphia, 1916, p.111</ref> joined the [[African Methodist Episcopal Church]], formed in the early 19th century as the first independent black denomination in the United States. He rose rapidly through its ranks, being ordained elder in 1883<ref name="Enc"/> and elected Bishopas a bishop in 1908.<ref name="Enc"/> AsIn welladdition asto being a preacherminister, he was an active organizer and fundraiser, holdingheld appointments to numerous missions, and from 1888 attendingattended all A.M.E. general conferences as delegate.<ref name="Enc"/>He also continued to press for equal treatment for all citizens, regardless of color. In 1887 Heard launched a legal challenge against the Georgia Railroad Company over its practice of providing separate and inferior accommodation for blacks while charging them full prices.<ref>''New York Times'', 30 July, 1887:"No "Jim Crow cars". The Georgia railroad demands relief of the Commission."</ref>
===Death=== ▼
 
He also continued to press for equal treatment for all citizens, regardless of color. In 1887 Heard launched a legal challenge against the Georgia Railroad Company over its practice of providing separate and inferior accommodation for blacks while charging them full prices.<ref>''New York Times'', July 30, 1887:"No "Jim Crow cars". The Georgia railroad demands relief of the Commission."</ref>
William Heard died in Philadelphia on 12 September, 1937. His death was reported both in America<ref>''New York Times'', 13 September 1937:"Bishop William H. Heard of the African Methodist Episcopal Church died early yesterday morning in the Hahnemann Hospital in Philadelphia..."</ref> and in Britain.<ref>''The Times'': Obituary, 14 September 1937, p.14.</ref>▼
 
▲With the help of [[Henry McNeal Turner]], hehead Bishop of the AME Church, Heard obtained hisa diplomatic appointment, being nominated as Minister Resident and Consul General to Liberia by President [[Grover Cleveland]] on 21 February 21, 1895.<ref>''New York Times'', 22 February 22, 1895</ref> While in Monrovia, Heard also served as superintendent of the Liberia Annual Conference of the A.M.E. Church. andHe built the first A.M.E. church in the city, the Eliza Turner Memorial Chapel. Before returning to America, he also toured Europe, observing during a visit to the British Museum that the mummies of Ancient Egypt were clearly of an African, not a Caucasian, raceethnicity. He also notedsaid that racial prejudice was less strong in France than in any English-speaking country, and seemed non-existent in Switzerland.<ref name="Autobio"/>
==Works==▼
 
▲Heard continued to be active in the affairs of his church for the rest of his life,. He attendingattended the second World Conference on Faith and Order in Edinburgh, Scotland, only thea month before his death. In Onresponse to reports circulating in the press that he had been refused accommodation by onean Edinburgh hotel on grounds of color, he was invited to meet the Chancellor of the Exchequer, [[John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon|Sir John Simon]], and his wife, at another. The [[William Temple (bishop)|Archbishop of York]] also offered him hospitality.<ref>"Invitation To Faith Conference.", ''The Times'' [London, England] 9, August 9, 1937: p. 12. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 19 Aug. 19, 2012.</ref>
 
▲===Marriage===
 
▲Heard married [[Josephine D. Heard|Josephine Delphine Henderson,]] of Salisbury, N.C., in 1882.<ref name="Enc"/><ref>Josephine D. Henderson married William Henry Heard, 21 January 21, 1882 in Clarke, Georgia. [http://www.familysearch.org]</ref>
 
▲===Death===
 
▲William H. Heard died in Philadelphia on 12 September 12, 1937. His death was reported in major newspapers both in Americathe United States<ref>''New York Times'', 13 September 13, 1937: "Bishop William H. Heard of the African Methodist Episcopal Church died early yesterday morning in the Hahnemann Hospital in Philadelphia..."</ref> and in Britain.<ref>''The Times'': Obituary, 14 September 14, 1937, p.14.</ref>
 
▲==Works==
* ''Africa: Verse and Song'' Atlanta, Ga. : Union Publishing Col., [ca. 1900?]
* ''The Bright Side of African Life'' A.M.E. Publishing Co, Philadelphia, 1898
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<references/>
 
==External links==
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
{{commonscatinline|William Henry Heard}}
▲| NAME = Heard, William
{{black church}}
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
{{US Ambassadors to Liberia}}
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American politician
{{Authority control}}
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1850
▲| PLACE OF BIRTH = Elbert County, Georgia
| DATE OF DEATH = 1937
| PLACE OF DEATH = Philadelphia
▲}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Heard, William}}
[[Category:1850 births]]
[[Category:1937 deaths]]
[[Category:SouthAfrican-American Carolina State Senatorsdiplomats]]
[[Category:South Carolina state senators]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Liberia]]
[[Category:African Methodist Episcopal bishops]]
[[Category:African-American politiciansstate legislators in South Carolina]]
[[Category:19th-century American diplomats]]
[[Category:People from Elbert County, Georgia]]
[[Category:19th-century American slaves]]
[[Category:African-American politicians during the Reconstruction Era]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Henry_Heard"