Samuel Davies (clergyman)
| Samuel Davies | |
|---|---|
 |
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| President of Princeton University | |
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In office 1759–1761 |
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| Preceded by | Jonathan Edwards |
| Succeeded by | Samuel Finley |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
November 3, 1723 New Castle County, Delaware Colony |
| Died | February 4, 1761 (aged 37) Princeton, Province of New Jersey |
| Spouse(s) | Sarah Kilpatrick (1746–1747); Jane Holt (1748–1761) |
| Children | Six |
| Profession | Pastor, university president, poet, hymnist |
| Religion | Christian, Presbyterian |
Samuel Davies (November 3, 1723 – February 4, 1761) was an evangelist and Presbyterian minister. Davies ministered in Hanover County from 1748-1759, followed by a term as the fourth President of Princeton University, then known as the College of New Jersey, from 1759 to 1761. One of the first non-Anglican preachers in Virginia, he was a strong advocate for religious freedom, and helped to institute significant religious reforms in the colony. Davies was also a prolific writer, authoring several hymns and publishing a book of poetry.
Davies was born in New Castle County, Delaware to David Davies and Martha Thomas Davies, Baptists of Welsh descent. Davies's mother eventually became a follower of presbyterian doctrine, which led to his earliest exposure to Calvinist theology. A child of deeply religious parents, his mother named him after the prophet Samuel. The Davieses could not afford to send their son to college, so they instead sent him to receive his early education under the tutelage of Rev. Samuel Blair at the academy he conducted in Faggs Manor, Pennsylvania. Blair's son, also named Samuel, was a member of Princeton's graduating class of 1760, the final class over which Davies presided as school president. The younger Blair later became the second chaplain of the United States House of Representatives.
After Davies completed his studies with Blair, the Presbytery of New Castle licensed him to preach in 1746. He joined the New Side synod of New York, and married Sarah Kirkpatrick on October 23, 1746, while he was preaching in Pennsylvania and Delaware.
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