Hubbard H. Kavanaugh

Hubbard Hinde Kavanaugh (January 14, 1802 – March 19, 1884) was an American minister who was a bishop of the United Methodist Church.

Early life Kavanaugh was born on January 14, 1802, near Winchester, Kentucky, the third son born to William Kavanaugh and Hannah (née Hubbard) Kavanaugh. Through his mother, he was a grandson of minister Thomas S. Hinde. He was named for Hinde, as well as a great-grandfather named Hubbard. He was of Irish and English descent.

Kavanaugh's father died when he was five years old, after which he was raised by his mother. At age thirteen, he entered a printing apprenticeship with Rev. John Lyle. On November 3, 1817, Kavanaugh converted to Christianity. He identified with no particular denomination, though was influenced mainly by Protestants; his father was an Anglician pastor, his mother was Methodist, Lyle was Presbyterian, and the pastor whose sermon converted Kavanaugh was Baptist. Lyle attempted unsuccessfully to convert him to Presbyterianism, and he became a Methodist. He began attending sermons, particularly those of pastor Benjamin Lakin.

Ministry In early September 1822, Kavanaugh was named a candidate to receive a license to ministry by his local circuit.

From 1823 to 1827, Kavanaugh and Luke P. Allen were the appointed pastors of the Little Sandy Circuit; Kavanaugh was the junior preacher. It was during this time where he gained notoriety as a minister. From fall 1827 to 1831, he was appointed to the Lexington Circuit, alongside William Adams and Richard Corwine. In 1829, he was appointed to the Louisville Circuit, alongside Littleton Fowler.

Kavanaugh was made a bishop in 1854, a position he retained for nearly 50 years. In 1860, he visited Tecas, by request of rancher Ezekiel Edward Nance.

Personal life and death Kavanaugh married Margaret C. Green at some point between 1827 and 1831; Green's father, Charles Railey, was the first cousin of President Thomas Jefferson. from a bladder infection.