William Henry Augustus Bissell


William Henry Augustus Bissell was the second bishop of Vermont in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.

Education

Bissell was born on November 10, 1814 in Randolph, Vermont, the son of Ezekiel Bissell and Elizabeth Washburn. He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1836 and commenced his teaching career in Detroit. He also studied theology at Vermont Episcopal Institute.

Ordination

Bissell was ordained deacon on September 29, 1839 by Bishop Benjamin T. Onderdonk of New York. He was ordained a priest a year later on August 2 by the same bishop. Bissell served as assistant of Christ Church in Troy, New York. In 1941 he was appointed rector of Trinity Church in Watervliet, New York, a post he held until 1845 when he became rector of Grace Church in Lyons, New York. In 1848 he was appointed rector of Trinity Church in Geneva, New York.

Episcopacy

Bissell was elected Bishop of Vermont in 1868 and consecrated bishop on June 3, 1868 by Samuel A. McCoskry Bishop of Michigan and co-consecrated by John Williams of Connecticut, Horatio Potter of New York, Arthur Cleveland Coxe of Western New York and Henry A. Neely of Maine. Bissell died on May 14, 1893 in Burlington, Vermont.

Personal life

Bissell married Martha Cotton Moulton on August 25, 1838 and had four children.