WAIT, Samuel, educator, born in Washington county, New York, 19 December, 1789; died in Wake Forest, North Carolina, 28 July, 1867. He was graduated at Columbian college, Washington, D. C., and served there for a short time as tutor. In 1827, having already been ordained to the Baptist ministry, he removed to North Carolina, and became pastor at New Berne. The remainder of his life was devoted to the promotion of the educational and religious interests of that state, and few men have accomplished more for these interests, especially as connected with the Baptist denomination. Mainly by his exertions the Baptist state convention of North Carolina was organized in 1830. The first Baptist newspaper published in the state owed its existence to his labors. He was active in establishing Wake Forest school, which subsequently became Wake Forest college, and was president of it from its foundation to 1846, a period of fourteen years. In 1851-'6 he had charge of a school for girls in Oxford, North Carolina. He has received the degree of D. D. from Wake Forest in 1849.