Amos Kendall (August 16, 1789 – November 12, 1869) was an American lawyer, journalist and politician. He rose to prominence as editor-in-chief of the Argus of Western America, an influential newspaper in Frankfort, the capital of the U.S. state of Kentucky. He used his newspaper, writing skills, and extensive political contacts to build the Democratic Party into a national political power. An ardent supporter of Andrew Jackson, he served as United States Postmaster General during the Jackson administration as well as briefly under Martin Van Buren. He was one of the most influential members of Jackson’s “Kitchen Cabinet”, an unofficial group of Jackson’s top appointees and advisors who set administration policy. Returning to private life, Kendall invested heavily in Samuel Morse’s new invention, the telegraph. He became one of the most important figures in the transformation of the American news media in the 19th century.

Kendall fell ill with a digestive illness and insomnia in the summer of 1869. On August 2, he traveled to New York to visit a nephew. He fell ill with what he believed was a common cold, but by the time he returned to Washington, D.C., on August 14 he was bedridden. As his wife was preparing to move the household into the William Stickney mansion at 6th and M Streets NW, Kendall resided at the home of Robert C. Fox, his son-in-law. Three weeks later, and still bedridden, Kendall moved into the Stickney mansion. Amos Kendall was unable to eat and was in great pain. He called his illness “bilious fever”, but it was more likely cancer of the liver and the stomach. The pain was so great, Kendall considered suicide, and he remained bedridden until the end of his life.

Amos Kendall died at dawn at his home in the Stickney Mansion on Friday, November 12, 1869, and was interred in Glenwood Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Kendall’s will provided for the purchase of land and construction of a chapel of a second branch chapel for Calvary Baptist Church as well. This became known as Mission Chapel (later known as Memorial Chapel). His will also created a scholarship at what is now George Washington University. The scholarship was awarded to the student from the District of Columbia who scored the highest ranking on the college’s entrance exam. The scholarship existed so long as a member of Calvary Baptist Church continued to sit on the university’s board of trustees.