Ammon Hennacy - Christian Anarchist, Birthday and Facts
Ammon Hennacy's Personal Details
Ammon Hennacy was an Irish American pacifist and social activist prominently known for his work as a Christian anarchist
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | July 24, 1893 |
| Died on | January 14, 1970 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | Anarchists, Ohio State University, Activists, Christian Anarchist, Social Activist |
| Ideologies | Anarchists |
| Spouses | Joan Thomas, Selma Melms |
| Known as | Ammon Ashford Hennacy |
| Universities |
|
| Notable Alumnis |
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| Birth Place | Negley, Ohio |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Benjamin Frankin Hennacy |
| Mother | Eliza Eunice Fitz Randolph |
| Sun Sign | Leo |
| Born in | Negley, Ohio |
| Famous as | Christian Anarchist, Social Activist |
| Died at Age | 76 |
Ammon Hennacy's photo
Who is Ammon Hennacy?
Ammon Ashford Hennacy was an Irish American pacifist and social activist prominently known for his works as a Christian anarchist. In his early adult years, he was an atheist and a supporter of big government. He passionately espoused socialism and the international union movement. His views were so extreme that he claimed to be in training to kill capitalists. However, his beliefs underwent a radical transformation after a two year prison sentence for resistance to the draft in World War I. After he organized a hunger strike among the prisoners, he was placed in solitary confinement. The only available book was the Bible and he completely renounced his former views and became a pacifist. After coming out of imprisonment, he voluntarily lived a life of poverty so that he would not have to pay taxes, some of which were used to support the military. He fasted and picketed in protest of the death penalty and the use of taxes in war. He referred to himself as a ‘Christian anarchist’ based primarily on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. He lived a life of simplicity and believed in what he called his ‘One-Man Revolution’ against violence, sin, and coercion. He refused to support war or capital punishment and denied to pay taxes, working tirelessly for the homeless and indigent and for world peace. His life was an exceptional journey of self-awakening.
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Childhood & Early Life
He was born on July 24, 1893 in Negley, Ohio to Quaker parents, Benjamin Franklin Hennacy and Eliza Eunice Fitz Randolph.
He was raised as a Baptist by his parents. But in 1909, when he heard the popular evangelist Billy Sunday preach, he became an atheist.
Shortly afterwards, he became a socialist and an ‘Industrial Workers of the World’ member.
In 1913, he attended Hiram College in Ohio for one year. Then, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1914.
In 1915, he became a student of Ohio State University for a year, marking the end of his formal education.
Later Years
In 1917, he was sentenced to two years of imprisonment in Atlanta, Georgia because of his refusal to register with his local draft board, in protest of World War I.
While in prison, he was allowed only one book, The Bible. Reading the Bible changed the outlook of the hitherto atheist and made him a Christian pacifist. He led a hunger strike which resulted in his solitary confinement for eight months.
He read the Bible repeatedly during his solitary confinement and concluded that the only way to follow Jesus' advice was to become a ‘Christian anarchist’ and launch a one man revolution.
After coming out of prison, he and his first wife traveled to all of the 48 contiguous states in 1921.
In 1925, he deliberately worked as a common-day laborer – picking cotton or other such field work because poverty was a way to avoid paying taxes. He felt that taxes funded the war efforts which he so strongly disapproved.
In 1931, he became a social worker in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and organized a union for social workers.
Between 1942 and 1953, he worked as a migrant farm worker so that he would earn very little money and thus not have to pay taxes to the government.
In 1952, he was baptized as a Catholic by an anarchist priest, with Dorothy Day, a devout Catholic convert, as his godmother.
In 1953, he moved to New York and became an editor for the ‘Catholic Writer’ newspaper which helped him to refine his thoughts and writing skills.
In 1954, he published his life story titled ‘Autobiography of a Catholic Anarchist’. Several years later, his next book, ‘The Book of Ammon’, was printed in 1965.
Along with Dorothy Day and other Catholic workers, he led the 1955 civil disobedience action against the compulsory air raid drills for which he was arrested and taken to jail.
In 1958, he participated in a 40 day fast against nuclear weapons testing.
In 1970, his last book, ‘The One-Man Revolution in America’, was published posthumously by his wife Joan Thomas Hennacy.
Major Works
He was a conscientious objector to both World War I and World War II, providing inspiration and courage to others who wished to do the same.
Through his work with the ‘Catholic Writer’ newspaper, he was profoundly influential in the Catholic Worker movement, which believed that the worth of every human being is guaranteed by God.
His work with homeless people in Salt Lake City, Utah, was a source of inspiration for social workers everywhere. In 1961, he founded the ‘Joe Hill House’ for the homeless and indigent.
He selflessly participated in numerous protests, pickets and fasts against the government and all war and violence, refusing even to defend himself.
Personal Life & Legacy
In 1919, he became the common law husband of Selma Melms. They were blessed with two children. But unfortunately the couple got divorced in 1964.
In 1965, he married Joan Thomas. The same year, he officially abandoned the Catholic Church, although he continued to consider himself a Christian.
In 1970, he suffered a heart attack while protesting the execution of two convicted murderers and died three days later on January 14, 1970 at Salt Lake City, Utah.
His body was cremated and the ashes scattered over the graves of the Haymarket anarchists in Waldheim Cemetery in Chicago.
After adopting the ideology of a Christian anarchist, he became a vegetarian. He claimed to own nothing and would always give up even his bed when needed by others. His unselfishness was legendary.
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Ammon Hennacy biography timelines
- // 24th Jul 1893He was born on July 24, 1893 in Negley, Ohio to Quaker parents, Benjamin Franklin Hennacy and Eliza Eunice Fitz Randolph.
- // 1909He was raised as a Baptist by his parents. But in 1909, when he heard the popular evangelist Billy Sunday preach, he became an atheist.
- // 1913In 1913, he attended Hiram College in Ohio for one year. Then, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1914.
- // 1915In 1915, he became a student of Ohio State University for a year, marking the end of his formal education.
- // 1917In 1917, he was sentenced to two years of imprisonment in Atlanta, Georgia because of his refusal to register with his local draft board, in protest of World War I.
- // 1919 To 1964In 1919, he became the common law husband of Selma Melms. They were blessed with two children. But unfortunately the couple got divorced in 1964.
- // 1921After coming out of prison, he and his first wife traveled to all of the 48 contiguous states in 1921.
- // 1925In 1925, he deliberately worked as a common-day laborer – picking cotton or other such field work because poverty was a way to avoid paying taxes. He felt that taxes funded the war efforts which he so strongly disapproved.
- // 1931In 1931, he became a social worker in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and organized a union for social workers.
- // 1942 To 1953Between 1942 and 1953, he worked as a migrant farm worker so that he would earn very little money and thus not have to pay taxes to the government.
- // 1952In 1952, he was baptized as a Catholic by an anarchist priest, with Dorothy Day, a devout Catholic convert, as his godmother.
- // 1953In 1953, he moved to New York and became an editor for the ‘Catholic Writer’ newspaper which helped him to refine his thoughts and writing skills.
- // 1954In 1954, he published his life story titled ‘Autobiography of a Catholic Anarchist’. Several years later, his next book, ‘The Book of Ammon’, was printed in 1965.
- // 1955Along with Dorothy Day and other Catholic workers, he led the 1955 civil disobedience action against the compulsory air raid drills for which he was arrested and taken to jail.
- // 1958In 1958, he participated in a 40 day fast against nuclear weapons testing.
- // 1961His work with homeless people in Salt Lake City, Utah, was a source of inspiration for social workers everywhere. In 1961, he founded the ‘Joe Hill House’ for the homeless and indigent.
- // 1965In 1965, he married Joan Thomas. The same year, he officially abandoned the Catholic Church, although he continued to consider himself a Christian.
- // 1970In 1970, his last book, ‘The One-Man Revolution in America’, was published posthumously by his wife Joan Thomas Hennacy.
- // 1970In 1970, he suffered a heart attack while protesting the execution of two convicted murderers and died three days later on January 14, 1970 at Salt Lake City, Utah.
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Ammon Hennacy's FAQ
What is Ammon Hennacy birthday?
Ammon Hennacy was born at 1893-07-24
When was Ammon Hennacy died?
Ammon Hennacy was died at 1970-01-14
Where was Ammon Hennacy died?
Ammon Hennacy was died in Utah
Which age was Ammon Hennacy died?
Ammon Hennacy was died at age 76
Where is Ammon Hennacy's birth place?
Ammon Hennacy was born in Negley, Ohio
What is Ammon Hennacy nationalities?
Ammon Hennacy's nationalities is American
What is Ammon Hennacy ideologies?
Ammon Hennacy's ideologies is Anarchists
Who is Ammon Hennacy spouses?
Ammon Hennacy's spouses is Joan Thomas, Selma Melms
What was Ammon Hennacy universities?
Ammon Hennacy studied at Ohio State University, Hiram College, Ohio State University, University of Wisconsin-Madison
What was Ammon Hennacy notable alumnis?
Ammon Hennacy's notable alumnis is Ohio State University
What is Ammon Hennacy's religion?
Ammon Hennacy's religion is Catholic
Who is Ammon Hennacy's father?
Ammon Hennacy's father is Benjamin Frankin Hennacy
Who is Ammon Hennacy's mother?
Ammon Hennacy's mother is Eliza Eunice Fitz Randolph
What is Ammon Hennacy's sun sign?
Ammon Hennacy is Leo
How famous is Ammon Hennacy?
Ammon Hennacy is famouse as Christian Anarchist, Social Activist