A history of the Muhlenberg family is essentially that of the early development of the young American republic. For two centuries and more this famous family name has been associated with distinction in education, the ministry, science, and government. In this book Paul a. W. Wallace tells the story of the first generation of the family in this country, beginning with Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, who came from Germany in 1742 to become the Patriarch of the Lutheran Church in America.

Canadian by birth, graduate of the University of Toronto, member of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in World War I, for twenty-five years on the faculty of Lebanon Valley College, Paul A. W. Wallace was Consultant to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.