On This Day

1st Lutheran pastor ordained in America, Justus Falckner at Philadelphia

Justus Falckner (November 22, 1672 – September 21, 1723) was an early American Lutheran minister and the first Lutheran pastor to be ordained within the region that became the United States.

Justus Falckner (November 22, 1672 – September 21, 1723) was an early American Lutheran minister and the first Lutheran pastor to be ordained within the region that became the United States. Falckner's published works include Grondlycke Onderricht, which first appeared in the Dutch language during 1708. This was the first Lutheran catechism to be published in North America. He is commemorated in the Calendar of Saints of the Lutheran Church on November 24 together with Jehu Jones and William Passavant.

Historical Significance

Justus Falckner (November 22, 1672 – September 21, 1723) was an early American Lutheran minister and the first Lutheran pastor to be ordained within the region that became the United States.

Events Before

  1. 1st English daily newspaper "Daily Courant" publishes

    1st English daily newspaper "Daily Courant" publishes

  2. Comet C/1702 H1 approaches within 0.0437 AUs of Earth

    Comet C/1702 H1 approaches within 0.0437 AUs of Earth

  3. England & Netherlands declare war on France & Spain

    England & Netherlands declare war on France & Spain

  4. Commission for the first Census of Iceland issued - first modern census, carried out by Professor Árni Magnússon and Vic

    Commission for the first Census of Iceland issued - first modern census, carried out by Professor Árni Magnússon and Vice Chancellor Páll Vídalín (1702-3) [1]

  5. Battle of Santa Marta, Venezuela: English fleet defeats the French (battle ends August 25)

    Battle of Santa Marta, Venezuela: English fleet defeats the French (battle ends August 25)

Events After

  1. Frenchman Elias Neau opens a school for blacks in NYC

    Frenchman Elias Neau opens a school for blacks in NYC

  2. French & Indians attack Deerfield, Massachusetts, kill 50, abduct 100

    The Raid on Deerfield, also known as the Deerfield Massacre, was an attack on February 29, 1704, of French and Native American forces on the English colonial settlement of Deerfield, Province of...

  3. First continuously published newspaper in America, The Boston News-Letter, is published in Boston by John Campbell [1]

    The Boston News-Letter, first published on April 24, 1704, is regarded as the first continuously published newspaper in the colony of Massachusetts.

  4. Boston News-Letter publishes first newspaper advertisement

    The Boston News-Letter, first published on April 24, 1704, is regarded as the first continuously published newspaper in the colony of Massachusetts.

  5. Elias Neau forms school for slaves in NY

    Elias Neau forms school for slaves in NY

More from the 1700s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on November 24, 1703?
Justus Falckner (November 22, 1672 – September 21, 1723) was an early American Lutheran minister and the first Lutheran pastor to be ordained within the region that became the United States. Falckner's published works include Grondlycke Onderricht, which first appeared in the Dutch language during 1708. This was the first Lutheran catechism to be published in North America.
Why is 1st Lutheran pastor ordained in America, Justus Falckner at Philadelphia significant?
Justus Falckner (November 22, 1672 – September 21, 1723) was an early American Lutheran minister and the first Lutheran pastor to be ordained within the region that became the United States.

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