MATTHEWS, John, clergyman, born in Guilford county, North Carolina, 19 January, 1772; died in New Albany, Indiana, 19 May, 1848. After devoting several years to mechanical pursuits, he studied under Rev David Caldwell, was licensed to preach in March, 1801, and the next winter was sent as a missionary of the Presbyterian church to Natchez, Mississippi He was successively pastor of churches in Martinsburg, Shepherdstown, Charleston, and Harper's Ferry, Virginia, from 1805 till 1831, when he became president of the Presbyterian theological seminary at Hanover, Indiana He continued in this office seventeen years, and was for a part of that time vice president of Hanover college. Washington college, Pa., gave him the degree of D.D. in 1823. Besides publishing many sermons, Dr. Matthews was the author of "Divine Purpose displayed in the Works of Providence and Grace," in a series of letters, and " Influence of the Bible."