Jonathan Dickinson
Founder of Princeton University
DICKINSON, Jonathan, clergyman,
born in Hatfield, Massachusetts, 22 April 1688; died in Elizabethtown, New
Jersey, 7 October 1747. He was graduated at Yale in 1706, and in 1709 was
installed pastor of the Church at Elizabethtown, where he had gone the year
previous, and in charge of which he remained nearly forty years, or until his
death. The adjoining townships of Rahway, Westfield, Union, Springfield, and a
part of Chatham, were included in his parish, to which he ministered not only in
spiritual things, but also in things temporal, as he was a practicing
physician.
After the separation of the New Jersey Churches from the synod of
Philadelphia in 1741, a charter was obtained for the College of New Jersey
(originally known as Nassau hall), the first classes were opened in
Elizabethtown, and Dr. Dickinson was chosen president, 22 October 1746. In
assuming this office he did not change his habits, as he had been accustomed
during a portion of his ministry to receive young men for instruction in
different branches preparatory to their entering on the study of some
profession. He died the year following, but lived long enough to leave upon the
institution the permanent impress of his character.
His works are largely controversial, being written in defense of what he
considered fundamental truths. Among them are "Reasonableness of
Christianity: Four Sermons" (173,2); "The True Scripture
Doctrine Concerning some Important Points of Christian Faith," etc.
(1741); and "Familiar Letters to a Gentleman" (1745; 3d ed.,
Edinburgh, 1757). A collection of many of his writings was published in 1793.
-- Edited Appletons Encyclopedia, by Louis
K. - Upper St. Clair High School,
Copyright © 2001 VirtualologyTM
Research Links
Dickinson,
Jonathan. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. ...
... Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001. Dickinson,
Jonathan. ... charter (1746) for
the College of New Jersey. In ... in Elizabethtown (now Elizabeth), NJ. ...
The
Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Sena to ...
... congressional biography. Sergeant, Jonathan Dickinson
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Dickinson,
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... Dickinson, Jonathan, 1688 – 1747 , American Presbyterian
... a charter (1746) for the
College of New Jersey. In 1747 ... in Elizabethtown (now Elizabeth), NJ ...
