Richard Allen was an influential American minister, educator, and civil rights leader who lived in Philadelphia during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Born into slavery, he eventually purchased his freedom and dedicated his life to serving the Black community. In 1794, he established the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, providing a space for Black worshippers to practice their faith without racial segregation. As the denomination's first bishop, elected in 1816, he worked to improve social standing and literacy through educational initiatives.