Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography, edited by James
Grant Wilson, John Fiske and Stanley L. Klos. Six volumes, New York: D. Appleton
and Company, 1887-1889 and 1999. Virtualology.com warns that these 19th Century
biographies contain errors and bias. We rely on volunteers to edit the historic
biographies on a continual basis. If you would like to edit this biographyplease
submit a rewritten biography in text form.
If acceptable, the new biography will be published above the 19th Century
Appleton's Cyclopedia Biography citing the volunteer editor
Virtual American Biographies
Over 30,000 personalities
with thousands of 19th Century illustrations, signatures, and exceptional life
stories. Virtualology.com
welcomes editing and additions to the
biographies. To become this site's editor or a contributor
Click Here
or e-mail Virtualology here.
SPRAGUE, William Buel, clergyman, born in Andover, Connecticut, 16 October, 1795; died in Flushing, L. I., 7 May, 1876. He was the son of Benjamin Sprague, a farmer. After graduation at Yale in 1815 he was a private tutor, studied two years at Princeton theological seminary, and in 1819 was ordained pastor of the 1st Congregational church in West Springfield, Massachusetts, as a colleague of Reverend Joseph Lathrop, D. D., remaining there until 1829, when he was installed as pastor of the 2d Presbyterian church in Albany, New York He held this charge till 1869, when he resigned and removed to Flushing. In 1828 and 1836 he visited Europe. He received the degrees of A. M. from Yale in 1819; S. T. D. from Columbia in 1828, and Harvard in 1848 ; and LL.D. from Princeton in 1869. Dr. Sprague made extensive collections of religious pamphlets and autographs, and presented the former to the state library at Albany, to which he also gave a manuscript volume of the " Letters of General Sir Jeffrey Amherst." Dr. Sprague also presented to the library of Harvard the papers of General Thomas Gage. His autographs, numbering nearly 100,000, probably the largest private collection in the world, are now in the possession of his son. He was the author of more than 100 published sermons, memoirs, addresses, and essays, and wrote many introductions to books. His principal work is "Annals of the American Pulpit" (9 vols., New York, 1857-'69). His other books are "Letters to a Daughter" (1822); " Letters from Europe" (1828); "Letters to Young People" (1830) ; "Lectures on Revivals" (1832) ; " Hints designed to regulate the Intercourse of Christians" (1834) ; " Lectures illustrating the Contrast between True Christianity and various other Systems" (1837); " Life of Reverend Edward Dorr Griffin" (1838) ; "Letters to Young Men, founded on the Life of Joseph" (2d ed., 1845); "Aids to Early Religion" (1847); "Words to a Young Man's Conscience" (1848); "Women of the Bible " (1850) ; " Visits to European Celebrities" (1855); the life of Timothy Dwight in Sparks's " American Biography " (1845) ; and "Memoirs" of Reverend John and William A. MeDowell" (1864).
Unauthorized Site:
This site and its contents are not affiliated, connected,
associated with or authorized by the individual, family,
friends, or trademarked entities utilizing any part or
the subject's entire name. Any official or affiliated
sites that are related to this subject will be hyper
linked below upon submission
and Evisum, Inc. review.
Please join us in our mission to incorporate The Congressional Evolution of the United States of America discovery-based curriculum into the classroom of every primary and secondary school in the United States of America by July 2, 2026, the nation’s 250th birthday. , the United States of America: We The
People. Click Here
