26 Facts About Warder Cresson

Warder Cresson, later known as Michael Boaz Israel, was an American religious zealot, proto-Zionist and diplomat.

Warder Cresson was appointed the first US Consul to Jerusalem in 1844, only to have the appointment rescinded 8 days later.

Warder Cresson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Quaker parents John Elliott Cresson and Mary Warder.

Warder Cresson was descended from Pierre Cresson, one of the early settlers of Harlem, New York, whose grandson, Solomon, moved to Philadelphia in the early 18th century.

In 1821, Cresson married Elizabeth Townsend, with whom he had six children, and ran a farm in Gwynedd, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia.

Warder Cresson went through a period of strong religious upheaval, joining a series of sects that appeared to him to represent true religion.

Warder Cresson was influenced by the writings of Mordecai Manuel Noah, who believed that the Jews would soon return to live in Palestine, their national homeland.

On May 17,1844, Warder Cresson was appointed American consul at Jerusalem, the first person to hold this office.

However, the Secretary of State John C Calhoun rescinded the appointment only 8 days later, after being told by Samuel D Ingham that Cresson was "a very weak-minded man and his mind, what there is of it, quite out of order".

Nevertheless, Warder Cresson continued to claim the rights of a consul until 1846, even though the US minister Constantinople confirmed his lack of credentials.

Warder Cresson used a fake consular stamp to provide protection to persons not eligible for American assistance.

Warder Cresson expects to see the millennium in three years, and has accepted the office of consul at Jerusalem, so as to be on the spot in readiness.

Warder Cresson was a tradesman, who made a considerable fortune, and lived at a country house in comfortable retirement.

Warder Cresson is to witness this; he and a favorite dove with which he travels; and he forsook home and comfortable country house, in order to make this journey.

Warder Cresson has no other knowledge of Syria but what he derives from the prophecy; and this has been considered a sufficient reason for his appointment by the United States Government.

Warder Cresson was a friend of Chacham Yehiel Cohen and the next chief rabbi, Elyashar.

Warder Cresson appealed this decision, and the trial, which went on for six days in May 1851, became one of the famous cases of the time.

Warder Cresson's wife presented an array of charges that included Warder Cresson's propensity to change religions, that he claimed Christ was a Negro, and that he had seen angels during his circumcision.

Many prominent citizens, including four doctors, testified that, on the contrary, Warder Cresson was perfectly sane.

Browne testified that the roots of Warder Cresson's hair had none of the abnormalities that were certain indicators of insanity.

In 1852, Warder Cresson returned to Jerusalem and actively supported efforts then being made towards Jewish settlement in Palestine.

Warder Cresson believed that the prevailing distress could be relieved by the establishment of agricultural colonies, and that oppressed Jews from all parts of the world should return to Zion.

Warder Cresson married a Sephardic Jewish woman, Rachel Moledano, with whom he had two children, Abigail Ruth and David Ben-Zion.

Warder Cresson lived the life of a pious Oriental Jew, dressed as a native Sephardi, and became a prominent leader of the community.

Warder Cresson probably died on October 27,1860, though some documents give slightly different dates.

In 2013, Warder Cresson's lost gravesite was rediscovered in the Mount of Olives Jewish Cemetery.