Clergyman; born in
St. Gall, Switzerland, July 14, 1716; educated at the
University of Helmstedt; ordained in the German Reformed Church; settled in
Philadelphia, Pa., in 1746, and became pastor of the united churches of
Philadelphia and
Germantown in 1747.
He returned to
Europe in 1751, and appealed for help in
Holland and
England for free schools among the Germans in
America.
This appeal resulted in a fund of over £20,000.
Schlatter retired from the active pastorate in 1755, and devoted himself to founding schools.
He served in the
Royal American army as chaplain in 1757-59.
When the
Revolutionary War began he sympathized with the patriots; was imprisoned by the
British in September, 1777, and had his house sacked, because he refused to obey their orders.
He died in
Philadelphia, Pa., in November, 1790.