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Richards, James (1), D.D.

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Richards, James (1), D.D.,

a Presbyterian minister, was born at New Canaan, Conn., Oct. 29, 1767. His early education was limited. Having finally succeeded in entering Yale College in 1789, his health soon compelled him to leave it; yet, having afterwards gone through the academical and theological course with untiring energy, the corporation of Yale College conferred upon him the degree of B.A. in 1794. In 1793 he was licensed to preach, and, having been called as pastor by the Church in Morristown, N.J., he was ordained and installed in May, 1797. In 1801 he was made M.A. by Princeton College, and in 1805, when but thirty-seven years of age, he was chosen moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. His ministrations at Morristown were particularly successful, but having in 1809 received a call to the congregation of Newark, he accepted it, and removed there. Here his influence gradually increased. In 1815 he preached the annual sermon before the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. The theological seminary at Auburn having been established by the Synod of Geneva in 1819, he was appointed its professor of theology in 1820. This he at first declined, but, having been reelected in 1823, he finally accepted, and entered upon his duties Oct. 29,1823. His rare qualities fitted him for this service, and he filled the situation with great credit to himself and benefit to others until his death, Aug. 2,1843. Dr. Richards published a number of occasional Sermons, Addresses, and Lectures. After his death there were published from his MSS. a volume of Lectures on Mental Philosophy and Theology, with a sketch of his life by the Rev. Samuel H. Gridley (1846, 8vo), and some twenty Discourses (1849, 12mo): — Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, 4, 99. See also the Meth. Quar. Rev. Jan. 1850; Plumley, Presbyterian Church, p. 371.