Samuel Bacon

Samuel Bacon (July 22, 1781 – May 2, 1820) was an American lawyer, journalist, Marine Corps officer and religious minister. He served as US government agent for the first American Colonization Society expedition to Africa. The expedition was struck down by African fever and Bacon sought help from a nearby British settlement. He died from exhaustion and placed the expedition's supplies into the charge of Daniel Coker. Early life Samuel Bacon was born on July 22, 1781, in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, to Ephraim Bacon and Hannah Chamberlin. He was the youngest of nine siblings and attended school at Leicester, Massachusetts. Bacon was due to attend Harvard University in 1804 but illness prevented him from taking up his place until September 1806. After graduating and recovering his health he became editor of the National Aegis in Worcester, Pennsylvania. Bacon left this post soon afterwards and moved to Philadelphia in December 1809. He went on to practice law in York, Carlisle and Shippensburg in Pennsylvania. Bacon then moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he opened a successful school and, from May to December 1810, edited the weekly Hive newspaper. Bacon later accepted an offer from York College of Pennsylvania to purchase the school. Marine Corps