Origins & Early Life

George Whitefield (; 27 December [O.S. 16 December] 1714 – 30 September 1770), was an English Anglican priest and Itinerant preacher who was one of the founders of Methodism and the evangelical movement. Born in Gloucester, he matriculated at Pembroke College, Oxford in 1732. There, he joined the "Holy Club" and was introduced to John and Charles Wesley, with whom he would work closely in his later ministry.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Unlike the Wesleys, he embraced Calvinism, and spearheaded the Calvinistic Methodist movement. Whitefield was ordained after receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree. He immediately began preaching, but he did not settle as the minister of any Church of England parish; rather, he became an itinerant preacher and evangelist. In 1738, Whitefield traveled to British North America where he preached a series of Christian revivals that became part of the Great Awakening. During his ministry he would make a total of seven voyages to the colonies.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

His methods were sometimes controversial among various established clergy, and subsequently he engaged in numerous debates and disputes with other clergymen. He arrived in Philadelphia in 1739 where he met Benjamin Franklin who admired Whitefield...

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