Name Abraham Davenport Died November 20, 1789 | Role Politician Education Yale University | |
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Abraham Davenport (1715 – November 20, 1789) was an American politician who served in the Connecticut Governor's Council during the American Revolution, and as a colonel in the Connecticut state militia. He is famous for his response to his colleagues during New England's Dark Day, which many feared was a sign that the Last Judgment was approaching. His response had been: "I am against adjournment. The day of judgment is either approaching, or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for an adjournment; if it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. I wish therefore that candles may be brought."
John Greenleaf Whittier wrote a poem about the famous incident, "Abraham Davenport" first published in The Atlantic Monthly (May 1866).
References
Abraham Davenport Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA