Manasseh Cutler (454)

Manasseh Cutler (13 May 1742–28 July 1823) was a preacher, lawyer, physician, and politician, and a member of the American Philosophical Society, elected in 1785. Born in Killingly, Connecticut to prosperous farmers, Manasseh went on to study at Yale College earning an A.B. in 1765, A.M. in 1768, and an LL.D. in 1789. He briefly taught at a school in Dedham, Massachusetts and worked in a whaling company at Edgartown, Massachusetts. He was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1767 but practiced sparingly and quickly left the profession. From 1766 to 1768, Cutler spent time at Martha’s Vineyard where his father-in-law trained him for the ministry. He eventually became licensed to preach in 1770 and ordained in Ipswich. During the Revolutionary War, he served as chaplain from 1776-1778. Due to the shortage of physicians, Manasseh began studying medicine in 1778 and helped manage the smallpox epidemic during 1779 in Wenham. While he was involved in electrical, medical, and astronomical work, his most famous scientific contribution was attempting to make a complete Linnaean classification catalog of New England fauna. He managed to collect over 350 species and established his reputation among the American scientific community. His contributions led to his election into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1791. Cutler’s largest contribution was to the development of Ohio. He was a director of the Ohio Company of Associates and was responsible for securing 1.5 million acres of land. Manasseh assisted in the writing of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and is believed the author of the provision that excluded slaveholding in the Northwest Territory. George Washington appointed him judge of the United States Court of Ohio in 1795, but he declined. Cutler went on to serve in the Massachusetts General Court in 1800 before serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1801-1805. He declined renomination in 1805 due to failing health and returned home to preach until his death in 1823.