Benjamin Woodbridge Dwight
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Woodbridge Dwight (1816–1889) was an American
educator and author.
. His father was physician Benjamin Woolsey Dwight (1780–1850), and paternal grandfather was Yale University
president Timothy Dwight
. His mother was Sophia Woodbridge Strong (1793–1861).
In 1831 the family moved to Clinton, Oneida County, New York
, where his father served as treasurer of Hamilton College after giving up his medical business. His uncle Sereno Edwards Dwight
became Hamilton College's president in 1833.
He graduated from Hamilton College in 1835 and the Yale Theological Seminary in 1838. He returned to Hamilton College to work as a tutor until 1842.
He founded the Congregational church at Joliet, Illinois
in 1844 and served as its pastor
for two years.
After moving to Brooklyn, New York in 1846, he founded a private high school, which he operated for 12 years.
In 1858 he moved back to Clinton and opened Dwight's Rural High School, with Reverend David A. Holbrook and Henry P. Bristol as associates. In 1863 Dwight opened another similar school in New York City
on Broadway
.
The Clinton school burned down in April 1865. In 1867 Dwight returned to Clinton and devoted his time to writing, including works on education, philology
, a short biography of his father and a massive two-volume history of thousands of his cousins and ancestors.
He died on September 18, 1889.
Dwight married Jane Dewey on July 29, 1846. She was born April 20, 1823, had four children, and died August 23, 1864. He then married Charlotte Sophia Parish on December 22, 1865. She was born April 29, 1827 and had one child. Children were: Eliza Dewey Dwight born February 21, 1850; Sophia Edwards Dwight born April 8, 1853; Francis Edwin Dwight born December 11, 1856; Issabella Jane Dwight born November 11, 1861; and Bertha Woolsey Dwight born May 13, 1867.
His younger brother was lawyer Theodore William Dwight
(1822–1892).
His publications included:
He prepared two more that were not published: Woman's Higher Culture and The True Doctrine of Divine Providence.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator and author.
Life
Benjamin Woodbridge Dwight was born April 5, 1816 in New Haven, ConnecticutNew Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
. His father was physician Benjamin Woolsey Dwight (1780–1850), and paternal grandfather was Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
president Timothy Dwight
Timothy Dwight IV
Timothy Dwight was an American academic and educator, a Congregationalist minister, theologian, and author...
. His mother was Sophia Woodbridge Strong (1793–1861).
In 1831 the family moved to Clinton, Oneida County, New York
Clinton, Oneida County, New York
Clinton is a village in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 1,952 at the 2000 census. It was named for George Clinton, a royal governor of the colony of New York....
, where his father served as treasurer of Hamilton College after giving up his medical business. His uncle Sereno Edwards Dwight
Sereno Edwards Dwight
Sereno Edwards Dwight was an American author, educator, and Congregationalist minister, who served as Chaplain of the Senate.- Early years:...
became Hamilton College's president in 1833.
He graduated from Hamilton College in 1835 and the Yale Theological Seminary in 1838. He returned to Hamilton College to work as a tutor until 1842.
He founded the Congregational church at Joliet, Illinois
Joliet, Illinois
Joliet is a city in Will and Kendall Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, located southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County. As of the 2010 census, the city was the fourth-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 147,433. It continues to be Illinois' fastest growing...
in 1844 and served as its pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
for two years.
After moving to Brooklyn, New York in 1846, he founded a private high school, which he operated for 12 years.
In 1858 he moved back to Clinton and opened Dwight's Rural High School, with Reverend David A. Holbrook and Henry P. Bristol as associates. In 1863 Dwight opened another similar school in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on Broadway
Broadway (New York City)
Broadway is a prominent avenue in New York City, United States, which runs through the full length of the borough of Manhattan and continues northward through the Bronx borough before terminating in Westchester County, New York. It is the oldest north–south main thoroughfare in the city, dating to...
.
The Clinton school burned down in April 1865. In 1867 Dwight returned to Clinton and devoted his time to writing, including works on education, philology
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
, a short biography of his father and a massive two-volume history of thousands of his cousins and ancestors.
He died on September 18, 1889.
Dwight married Jane Dewey on July 29, 1846. She was born April 20, 1823, had four children, and died August 23, 1864. He then married Charlotte Sophia Parish on December 22, 1865. She was born April 29, 1827 and had one child. Children were: Eliza Dewey Dwight born February 21, 1850; Sophia Edwards Dwight born April 8, 1853; Francis Edwin Dwight born December 11, 1856; Issabella Jane Dwight born November 11, 1861; and Bertha Woolsey Dwight born May 13, 1867.
His younger brother was lawyer Theodore William Dwight
Theodore William Dwight
Theodore William Dwight , American jurist and educator, cousin of Theodore Dwight Woolsey and of Timothy Dwight V, was born July 18, 1822 in Catskill, New York....
(1822–1892).
His publications included:
He prepared two more that were not published: Woman's Higher Culture and The True Doctrine of Divine Providence.