Smith, John (4), D.D.. a Congregational minister, was born in Newbury ( Bytield Parish), Mass., Dec. 21, 1752. He entered the junior class in Dartmouth Col- lege in 1771, graduating in 1773, and immediately after was ajipointed prece|)tor of iNIoor's Scho<d at Hanover. While occupying this position, he studied theology un- der the direction of president Wheelock. In 1774 he was ajipointed tutor in the college, continuing in that ofHce until 1778, when he was elected professor of lan- guages. This position he retained until the close of his life, April 30, 1809. He served as college librarian for thirty years (1779-1809). For two years he deliv- ered lectures on systematic theology, and officiated as stated preacher in the village of Hanover. Dr. Smiib prepared a Ilehrete Grammar (dated May 14, 1772 ; re- vised Feb. 11, 1774). He also prepared a Chaldee Gram- mar: — a Latin Giximmar (1802): — a Greek Grammar (1809) : — an edition of Cicero de Oratore, and Sermons. See Spragne, .4 mials of the A mer. Pulpit, ii, 90,
Smith, John (5), a iMethodist Episcopal minister, was born in Kent Co., Md., ]March 10, 1758 ; converted June 9, 1780 ; received on trial in the travelling con- nection in 1784, and into fidl connection in 1786, and afterwards travelled the ftdlowing circuits: New Hope, Redstone, (Ircenbrier, Cecil, Talbot, Milford, Somerset, Annamessex (twice), Caroline, and Dover, when he be- came supernumerary for several years, and afterwards supcrainiuated until his death. May 10, 1812. See Miii- vtes of Annual Conferences, i, 224; Stevens, IJisi. of the M.E. Church, ii, 147; iv, 281,
Smith, John (6), D.D., a Congregational minister, was born in Belchertown, Mass., March 5, 1766. He graduated at Darmouth College in 1794, entered the ministry in 1796, and was ordained Jan. 4, 1797, co- pastor at .Salem, N. IL, but resigned his charge Nov. 21, 1816. He became pastor in Wenham, Mass., Nov. 26, 1817, but was dismissed Sept. 8, 1819, to acce])t the professorship of theology in the Theological Seminary, Bangor, Me., which he held until his death, A|)ril 7, 1831. He published. Treatise on Infant Baptism: — Two Sermons on the National Fast (1812), and a few occasional Sermons. See Sprague, ,1 ««t(^»- oj'the Amer. J'ulpil, ii, 389.
Smith, John (7), a Presl)yterian minister, was born in Hopewell, Pa,, I\Iay 8, 177(). He was carefully edu- cated by his jiarents, graduat('<l at Dickinson (College; studied theology jirivately at Princeton, N. J.; w.is li- censed by New Brunswick Presbyterj' in 1809; and or- dained by Oneida Presbytery as pastor of the Church at Cooperstown, N. Y., in 1810, where, for nearly a (juar- ler of a century he went in and out as a true shepherd
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before his people. In 1834 he became principal of Cher- ry Valley Academy, at the same time preaching in the church at Miildletiekl, a distance of six miles. In I8oC lie was stateil su|)ply of the Church at Painted Post, in Chemung Presbytery, in 18-l() of the Church in Ham- mondsport, in liath Presbytery, where he preached as opportunity and his increasing years would permit, un- til 1855, wlien he removed to I'en Yan and took up his residence with his son-in-law. He died here, .June 17, 18G0. On the announcement of JMr. Smith's death, the members of Bath Presbytery held a meeting and passed resolutions in view of his great worth as a Christian and minister. See Wilson, /^/e^'i. JJist. Almanac, 1862, p. 195. (J.L.S.)
Smith, John (8), a minister of the Methodist Epis- copal Cliurch, was born in Kirhy, Vt., in 1808. He was converted and joined the Church in 1824, was licensed to preach in 1827, and joined the New England Confer- ence in 1829. He labored for about twenty years in the active ministry, and then, compelled by ill-liealth, took a supernumerary relation, which he held until his death, March 27, 1872, in West Burke. See Minutes of An- nual Cuiijerences, 1873, p. 58.
Smith, John Blair, D.D., an eminent Presbyte- rian divine and educator, and brother of Samuel Stan- hope Smith, U.D., was born in Pequea, Lancaster Co., Pa., June 12, 175(5. He very early evinced great thirst for knowledge and uncommon facility in acquiring it. received most watchful and faithful parental training, and was converted when fourteen years of age. He graduated at the College of New Jersey in 1773 under Dr. Witherspoon; pursued his theological studies under the direction of his brother, was licensed by the Pres- bytery of Hanover, Ajiril 29, 1778, and ordained by the same presbytery, Oct. 2(5, 1779. He became suc- cessor to his brother as president of Hampden Sidney College in the same year, and in the spring of 1780 also as pastor of the churches of Cumberland and Briery, in Prince Edward Co., Va., where he became very pojiidar, and before he left the state is said to have been '• at once more attractive and powerful than any other clergyman in Virginia from the time of Samuel Davics." In 1789 he resigned his position as president of Hampden Sidney College, in 1791 be- came pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church, Phila- delphia, Pa.; in 1795 |>resident of Union College, N. Y., and for three years presided over the infant institution with great credit and success. In JNIay, 1799, he re- turned to his former charge in Philadelphia, where he died, Aug. 22, of the same year, of yellow fever. Dr. Smith was a fervent and eloquent preacher, earnestly devoted to his work, and drew immense congrega- tions, which would hang upon his lips in breathless si- lence. As a patriot and a citizen he also exerted an important influence in the civil concerns of the state, especially as connecteii with the interests of religion. When the Legislature, in 177(5, abolished the establish- ment of the Cluirch of England in the state, they at the same time passed an act incorporating the Epis- copal clergy, and giving them a right to the glebes and churches which had been procured by a tax upon the inhabitants in general, including Dissenters of every de- scription as well as Episcopalians. Another bill was introduced, but not yet passed, to extenil the privileges of the Act of Toleration, as passed by William and Marj', to the State of Virginia. Dr. Smith framed a remon- strance against those acts, which he induced the Pres- bytery of Hanover to adopt and send to the Legislature, which was a very able State paper and had tlie desired effect. About this time aiiotiier great excitement was raised in Virginia by a bill introduced in the Legisla- ture for a general assessment for the support of religion, a scheme which was advocated by Patrick Henrv and other popular politicians. An adverse petition was pre- pared, and it, together with a memorial from the pres- bytery, was presented to the Legislature by Dr. Smith