Born in 1827, Daniel Clausen was a Norwegian Lutheran missionary to the Danish West Indies. He was a graduate of the University of Copenhagen and studied theology at the Shefefie University. In 1848 he went to Liberia as a missionary and began his literary career. In 1850 he began publishing a newspaper, the Liberian Herald, which was printed in Monrovia for thirty-three years.
In 1852, he became editor of The Christian Standard, a newspaper published by the American Colonization Society
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In 1853 he left Liberia for Denmark where he was employed as a journalist and later as a teacher at a school for Negroes. In 1855 he returned to Liberia and continued to edit The Christian Standard until his departure for America in 1859.
In 1860, just before his departure for America, Dr.
Clausen published his first book entitled "The Life of Christ" which was an abridgment of John Mark's "Life of Christ" translated into the African tongue.
Dr. Clausen arrived in New York on August 25, 1861 and entered upon active life as an Editor and Publisher of the Liberian Herald in New York City.
He continued this activity until December 17, 1863 when he left for Europe where he remained until 1868 when he again returned to this country where he established himself as an Editor and Publisher of The Liberian Herald
Clausen was active during the American Civil War (1861-1865) as an anti-slavery advocate for the Union cause. He also served as an advisor to President Abraham Lincoln on war matters including freedom for slaves, black voting rights, black participation in the militia, etc., during his visit with Lincoln at the White House on December 5, 1862
Clausen's activities caused him to be barred from entering Denmark in 1863 but he stayed in Paris until 1870 when he returned to Denmark after having worked briefly in London and Paris during that time period
Clausen lived most of his last years with family members in Denmark where he died January 21, 1886 at age sixty-four after being bitten by a mad dog while visiting friends at their home on Midsommervej near Ringkjøbing on January 15th
Clausen has been called "the father of African journalism." Many African Americans have referred to him as "The Father of Our Race."
