Sereno Edwards Dwight
Encyclopedia
Sereno Edwards Dwight was an American author, educator, and Congregationalist
minister, who served as Chaplain of the Senate.
President Timothy Dwight IV
and his wife Mary Woolsey, born in Greenfield Hill
in Fairfield, Connecticut
. He graduated Yale in 1803, was a tutor there in 1806–1810, and successfully practised law in New Haven, Connecticut
in 1810–1816. For seveal years during this time, he worked ten hours each day preparing an exhaustive "Geography".
for one year's term (December 16, 1816-December 19, 1817). Dwight was ordained on September 3, 1817, at Park Street Church, Boston.
Thereafter, he served as pastor of the Park Street Church
, Boston
, in 1817–1826, where he greatly influenced the young hymn writer and clergyman Ray Palmer, author of "My Faith Looks Up to Thee" among others. In 1833–1835 he was president of Hamilton College, Clinton, New York
. His career was wrecked by accidental mercury
poisoning, which interfered with his work in Boston and at Hamilton College, and made his life after 1839 solitary and comparatively uninfluential.
His publications include Life of David Brainerd
(1822); Life and Works of Jonathan Edwards (ten volumes, 1830), of whom he was a great-grandson; The Hebrew Wife (1836), an argument against marriage with a deceased wife's sister; and Select Discourses (1851); to which was prefixed a biographical sketch by his brother William Dwight (1795–1865), who was also successively a lawyer and a Congregational preacher.
, of New Haven, Connecticut
. Their only daughter did not survive infancy.
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
minister, who served as Chaplain of the Senate.
Early years
Dwight was the fifth son of Yale CollegeYale 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:...
President Timothy Dwight IV
Timothy Dwight IV
Timothy Dwight was an American academic and educator, a Congregationalist minister, theologian, and author...
and his wife Mary Woolsey, born in Greenfield Hill
Greenfield Hill
Greenfield Hill is an historic neighborhood of Fairfield, Connecticut and is roughly bounded by the Merritt Parkway., Burr Street., Redding Road, Hulls Farm Road., and Hill Farm Road....
in Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is bordered by the towns of Bridgeport, Trumbull, Easton, Redding and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 59,404...
. He graduated Yale in 1803, was a tutor there in 1806–1810, and successfully practised law in New Haven, Connecticut
New 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...
in 1810–1816. For seveal years during this time, he worked ten hours each day preparing an exhaustive "Geography".
Ministry
Licensed to preach in 1816, he served as the Chaplain of the Senate of the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for one year's term (December 16, 1816-December 19, 1817). Dwight was ordained on September 3, 1817, at Park Street Church, Boston.
Thereafter, he served as pastor of the 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:...
, Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, in 1817–1826, where he greatly influenced the young hymn writer and clergyman Ray Palmer, author of "My Faith Looks Up to Thee" among others. In 1833–1835 he was president of Hamilton College, Clinton, 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....
. His career was wrecked by accidental mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
poisoning, which interfered with his work in Boston and at Hamilton College, and made his life after 1839 solitary and comparatively uninfluential.
His publications include Life of David Brainerd
David Brainerd
David Brainerd was an American missionary to the Native Americans who had a particularly fruitful ministry among the Delaware Indians of New Jersey. During his short life he was beset by many difficulties...
(1822); Life and Works of Jonathan Edwards (ten volumes, 1830), of whom he was a great-grandson; The Hebrew Wife (1836), an argument against marriage with a deceased wife's sister; and Select Discourses (1851); to which was prefixed a biographical sketch by his brother William Dwight (1795–1865), who was also successively a lawyer and a Congregational preacher.
Personal life
In August 1811, Dwight married Susan Edwards Daggett (1788 - 1839), the daughter of David DaggettDavid Daggett
David Daggett was a U.S. senator, mayor of New Haven, Connecticut, Judge of the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors, and a founder of the Yale Law School.-Life:...
, of New Haven, Connecticut
New 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...
. Their only daughter did not survive infancy.