Asbury, FRANCIS

Asbury, FRANCIS, the first Methodist bishop consecrated in America, was born at Handsworth in Staffordshire, August 20, 1745. When sixteen years old he became an itinerant Wesleyan preacher, and in 1771 he was sent as a missionary to America, where he was consecrated in 1784. During a long life of almost incessant labour, it is estimated by his biographer that he travelled about 270,000 miles (mostly on horseback), preached about 16,500 sermons, and ordained more than 4000 preachers. Of great natural ability and indomitable energy, he ranks with Wesley, Whitefield, and Coke in the Methodist movement of his time. He died at Richmond, Virginia, March 31, 1816.