Theodore Clapp (March 29, 1792-May 17, 1866), an early Unitarian preacher in the southern United States who established an outpost of liberal religion in New Orleans and built it into a beacon of religious moderation, was born in Easthampton, Massachusetts and was a Yale graduate. Clapp served his congregation and the city for 35 years. He is well remembered for his work during the several epidemics of cholera and yellow fever that ravaged New Orleans during the 1830s and the early 1850s. He moved through the city from house to house, with almost no rest, comforting the sick and dying, burying the dead, performing thousands of funerals, and doing what he could for those left behind. He also offered his church to the young physicians who founded the Medical College of New Orleans to use for its first year of classes, and he served on the school's Board of Trustees. The College, which evolved into Tulane Medical School, held its first graduation in the church, and Clapp was appointed an adjunct professor of anatomy.
Clapp retired in 1856 and moved with his wife back to her family home in Kentucky. During the Civil War, the Church of the Messiah remained opened through the dedicated work of lay leaders—one of only two Unitarian churches in the South at the end of the War. One of those lay leaders was Clapp's own son, a doctor, who acted as the church's minister during the War.
When Clapp died in Louisville in May 1866 he was quietly buried there, but his body was soon brought back to New Orleans, where many thousands attended a funeral service held for him in March 1867. His final burial was in New Orleans' Cypress Grove Cemetery.
Clapp retired in 1856 and moved with his wife back to her family home in Kentucky. During the Civil War, the Church of the Messiah remained opened through the dedicated work of lay leaders—one of only two Unitarian churches in the South at the end of the War. One of those lay leaders was Clapp's own son, a doctor, who acted as the church's minister during the War.
When Clapp died in Louisville in May 1866 he was quietly buried there, but his body was soon brought back to New Orleans, where many thousands attended a funeral service held for him in March 1867. His final burial was in New Orleans' Cypress Grove Cemetery.
Theodore Clapp (March 29, 1792-May 17, 1866), an early Unitarian preacher in the southern United States who established an outpost of liberal religion in New Orleans and built it into a beacon of religious moderation, was born in Easthampton, Massachusetts and was a Yale graduate. Clapp served his congregation and the city for 35 years. He is well remembered for his work during the several epidemics of cholera and yellow fever that ravaged New Orleans during the 1830s and the early 1850s. He moved through the city from house to house, with almost no rest, comforting the sick and dying, burying the dead, performing thousands of funerals, and doing what he could for those left behind. He also offered his church to the young physicians who founded the Medical College of New Orleans to use for its first year of classes, and he served on the school's Board of Trustees. The College, which evolved into Tulane Medical School, held its first graduation in the church, and Clapp was appointed an adjunct professor of anatomy.
Clapp retired in 1856 and moved with his wife back to her family home in Kentucky. During the Civil War, the Church of the Messiah remained opened through the dedicated work of lay leaders—one of only two Unitarian churches in the South at the end of the War. One of those lay leaders was Clapp's own son, a doctor, who acted as the church's minister during the War.
When Clapp died in Louisville in May 1866 he was quietly buried there, but his body was soon brought back to New Orleans, where many thousands attended a funeral service held for him in March 1867. His final burial was in New Orleans' Cypress Grove Cemetery.
Clapp retired in 1856 and moved with his wife back to her family home in Kentucky. During the Civil War, the Church of the Messiah remained opened through the dedicated work of lay leaders—one of only two Unitarian churches in the South at the end of the War. One of those lay leaders was Clapp's own son, a doctor, who acted as the church's minister during the War.
When Clapp died in Louisville in May 1866 he was quietly buried there, but his body was soon brought back to New Orleans, where many thousands attended a funeral service held for him in March 1867. His final burial was in New Orleans' Cypress Grove Cemetery.
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