Edward Dorr Griffin
Encyclopedia
Edward Dorr Griffin was a Christian minister and an American
educator who served as President of Williams College
from 1821 to 1836 and served as the first pastor of Park Street Church
from 1811 to 1815.
, Griffin graduated from Yale College
in 1790 as the school's first Phi Beta Kappa student. He was licensed in 1792 and began his ministry in New Salem, Massachusetts
the next year. In 1795 he was ordained at the Congregational Church
in New Hartford, Connecticut
. He earned his Doctorate of Divinity from Union College
in 1808 and became professor of rhetoric at Andover Theological Seminary the next year. In 1811 he officially became the first pastor of Park Street Church
in Boston where he preached a prominent series of sermons opposing New Divinity
.
When Griffin came to Williams College in 1821, it had two professors; one planned to move, and the other was gravely ill. Griffin raised funds and hired brothers Mark Hopkins
and Albert Hopkins.
He resigned in 1836 for health reasons and died in Newark, New Jersey
the next year. Griffin Hall at Williams College is named in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator who served as President of Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
from 1821 to 1836 and served as the first pastor of Park Street Church
Park Street Church
The Park Street Church in Boston, Massachusetts is an active Conservative Congregational Church at the corner of Tremont Street and Park Street. The church is currently pastored by Gordon P. Hugenberger.-History:...
from 1811 to 1815.
Life and career
Born in East Haddam, ConnecticutEast Haddam, Connecticut
East Haddam is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,333 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
, Griffin graduated from Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
in 1790 as the school's first Phi Beta Kappa student. He was licensed in 1792 and began his ministry in New Salem, Massachusetts
New Salem, Massachusetts
New Salem is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 990 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
the next year. In 1795 he was ordained at the Congregational Church
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
in New Hartford, Connecticut
New Hartford, Connecticut
New Hartford is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 6,088 at the 2000 census. The town center is also defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place . The town is mainly a rural community consisting of farms, homes, and parks...
. He earned his Doctorate of Divinity from Union College
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
in 1808 and became professor of rhetoric at Andover Theological Seminary the next year. In 1811 he officially became the first pastor of Park Street Church
Park Street Church
The Park Street Church in Boston, Massachusetts is an active Conservative Congregational Church at the corner of Tremont Street and Park Street. The church is currently pastored by Gordon P. Hugenberger.-History:...
in Boston where he preached a prominent series of sermons opposing New Divinity
New Divinity
The New Divinity is a system of Christian theology that was very prominent in New England in the late 18th century...
.
When Griffin came to Williams College in 1821, it had two professors; one planned to move, and the other was gravely ill. Griffin raised funds and hired brothers Mark Hopkins
Mark Hopkins (educator)
Mark Hopkins was an American educator and theologian.-Life and career:Great-nephew of the theologian Samuel Hopkins, Mark Hopkins was born in Stockbridge, Massachusetts...
and Albert Hopkins.
He resigned in 1836 for health reasons and died in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
the next year. Griffin Hall at Williams College is named in his honor.
Selected publications
- Lectures delivered in Park Street Church, Boston (Boston, 1813)http://books.google.com/books?id=OHA3AAAAMAAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s (accessible on Google Books Oct. 14, 2009)
- Sixty Sermons on Practical Subjects (New York, 1844)http://books.google.com/books?id=fXgOAAAAYAAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s.(accessible on Google Books Oct. 14, 2009)
- William Buell SpragueWilliam Buell SpragueWilliam Buell Sprague was an American Congregational and Presbyterian clergyman and compiler of Annals of the American Pulpit , a comprehensive biographical dictionary of the leading American Protestant Christian ministers who died before 1850.-Biography:He was educated at Yale under Timothy...
, Ed. (1839). Sermons by the Late Edward Dorr Griffin, to which is Prefixed a Memoir of His Life. (2 vols.) New York: M.W. Dodd.accessible online
External links
- Edward Dorr Griffin (1770-1837): Williams President 1821-1836 via Williams College