Samuel Seabury, colonial Anglican clergyman and first bishop of the Protestant Episcopal church of the United States, was the leading propagandist for the Loyalist cause during the American Revolution. His four tracts published in the winter of 1774-1775, usually known as Letters of a Westchester Farmer, were among the best pieces of controversial writing produced by either side of the Revolutionary struggle. Seabury also wrote on behalf of the Anglican interest in a number of colonial controversies before the Revolution. During the War of Independence he helped to organize the Loyalist emigration from New York. However, Seabury remained in the United States, where, as bishop of Connecticut, he promoted high-church principles among Episcopalians by his sermons, writings, and activity.

Seabury was born in Groton, Connecticut, to the Reverend Samuel Seabury, minister to the Congregational church in North Groton, and Abigail Mumford Seabury. A few months after Seabury's birth...