John Price Durbin
Encyclopedia
John Price Durbin was a Methodist clergyman who served as Chaplain of the Senate and president of Dickinson College
.
, to Elizabeth "Betsy" Nunn and Hozier (or Hosier) Durbin; he was the oldest of their five sons. While he was still young, his father died and he went to work for a cabinetmaker. He continued in this trade until his religious conversion at age 18. Durbin studied Latin, Greek and English grammar, with tutors.
(1821), he entered classes at Miami University
while serving there. After another relocation, Durbin continued his college education at Cincinnati College, from which he earned a bachelor's degree and a master's of arts degree (1825). He then was appointed professor of languages at Augusta College in Kentucky
. He then served as professor of natural science at Wesleyan University
, Middletown, Connecticut
.
In 1831, Durbin was elected Chaplain of the Senate. Thereafter, he was editor of the "Christian Advocate" (1832). In 1833, Dickinson College
became part of the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Church; Durbin was called to be the new president, serving until 1844.
Following retirement from the college, Durbin served Union Methodist Church in Philadelphia. In 1850 he became secretary of The Missionary Society, serving until 1872, when ill health led to his retirement. His several tours of Europe and the Middle East led to well received books which he authored.
John Price Durbin died in New York, New York on October 18, 1876; he was buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia.
Dickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
.
Early years
Durbin was born on October 10, 1800 in Paris, Bourbon County, KentuckyBourbon County, Kentucky
Bourbon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is the remnant of what was previously a much larger Bourbon County, established as part of Virginia in 1785, and comprising what are now thirty-four modern Kentucky counties...
, to Elizabeth "Betsy" Nunn and Hozier (or Hosier) Durbin; he was the oldest of their five sons. While he was still young, his father died and he went to work for a cabinetmaker. He continued in this trade until his religious conversion at age 18. Durbin studied Latin, Greek and English grammar, with tutors.
Ministry
Licensed to preach by the Methodist church, Durbin went to Ohio in 1819 in order to begin his ministry. His first church was in Hamilton, OhioHamilton, Ohio
Hamilton is a city in Butler County, southwestern Ohio, United States. The population was 62,447 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Butler County. The city is part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area....
(1821), he entered classes at Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
while serving there. After another relocation, Durbin continued his college education at Cincinnati College, from which he earned a bachelor's degree and a master's of arts degree (1825). He then was appointed professor of languages at Augusta College in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. He then served as professor of natural science at Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
, Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
.
In 1831, Durbin was elected Chaplain of the Senate. Thereafter, he was editor of the "Christian Advocate" (1832). In 1833, Dickinson College
Dickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
became part of the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Church; Durbin was called to be the new president, serving until 1844.
Following retirement from the college, Durbin served Union Methodist Church in Philadelphia. In 1850 he became secretary of The Missionary Society, serving until 1872, when ill health led to his retirement. His several tours of Europe and the Middle East led to well received books which he authored.
John Price Durbin died in New York, New York on October 18, 1876; he was buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia.