COGSWELL, William, clergyman, born in At-kinson, New Hampshire, 5 June, 1787; died in Gilmanton, New Hampshire, 18 April, 1850. He received his early training in the academy at Atkinson, and was graduated at Dartmouth in 1811. While in College he taught school, and had Rufus Choate among his pupils. After graduation he taught for two years, pursuing his theological studies at the same time. In 1815 he was ordained to the ministry and installed pastor of the South church in Dedham, Massachusetts. In 1829 he was chosen general agent of the American education society, and resigned his pastoral charge. In 1832 he became secretary of the society, which office he held for ten years, and in 1837 was chosen a trustee of Andover theological seminary. He was elected to the chair of national education and history at Dartmouth in 1841, and occupied it until 1844, when he resigned to accept the presidency and chair of Christian theology in Gilmanton, New Hampshire, theological seminary. He received the degree of A. M. from Harvard and from Brown in 1816, and that of D. D. from Williams in 1833. Dr. Cogswell edited the "New England Historical and Genealogical Register," the "New Hampshire Repository," and the "American Quarterly Register." Besides his sermons, he published "A Manual of Theology and Devotion," "Assistant to Family Religion," " Christian Philanthropist," "Theological Class-Book," "Harbinger of the Millennium," "Letters to Young Men preparing for the Ministry," "Reports of the American Education Society," and "Reports of the Northern Academy of Arts and Sciences."