Date of Birth: 
About James Whittaker
- James Whittaker (February 28, 1751 – July 20, 1787) was the second leader of the Shakers. Whittaker was born in Oldham, England and became a weaver and a member of the artisan and merchant class.
- He came to colonial America with Mother Ann Lee, who was one of his relatives and raised him.
- Father Jaems Whittaker, Father William Lee (Ann's brother), and Mother Ann Lee had lived in Manchester, England and were known as the First Parents of the Shaker sect.
- Whittaker was a powerful orator who drew many people to the Shaker sect.He became leader following the death of Mother Ann Lee in September 1784.
- Under Whittaker’s lead, Shaker communities were formed in New England and the meetinghouse was built at Mount Lebanon in 1785.
- Mount Lebanon would go on to become the center for all other Shaker communities, from Maine to Kentucky.Whittaker had suffered from physical abuse and traveled a great deal for the sect.
- Having a premonition of his death, he chose to die at Enfield, Connecticut Shaker community.
- After James Whittaker’s death in 1787, the American Joseph Meacham, with whom he had a power struggle, became the next leader of the Shakers.
Read more at Wikipedia