MELL, Patrick Hues, educator, born in Walthourville, Georgia, 19 July, 1814; died in Athens, Georgia, 26 January, 1888. His parents died when he was a boy, leaving him without means for his support, but with an elementary education. He spent two years at Amherst, in 1833-'5, but left before graduation, and taught for several years in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Georgia. In 1842 he was elected to the professorship of ancient languages in Mercer university. After thirteen years of service he was called to the same professorship in the state university at Athens. In 1860 he was transferred to the chair of metaphysics and ethics, which he held until his death. In 1878 he was elected chancellor of the university and ex-officio president of the State college of agriculture and mechanic arts. Dr. Mell was a clergyman of the Baptist denomination, to whose ministry he was ordained in 1842. In connection with his educational work he had pastoral charge of various churches. He was president of the Southern Baptist convention, to which post he was regularly elected during a long term of years. During the civil war he was in the Confederate service, and was elected colonel of a regiment. He received the degree of D. D. from the University of Georgia in 1858, and that of LL. D. from Howard college, Alabama, in 1869. Dr. Mell is the author of "Baptism" (Charleston, South Carolina, 1852); "Corrective Church Discipline" (1860); a treatise on "Parliamentary Practice" (Atlanta, Georgia, 1868); " The Philosophy of Prayer" (New York, 1875); and "Church Polity" (Atlanta, 1878).