man of much more than ordinary ability. His intellect, in force and habit, is best described by the expression "long-headed." He was a devout man, at times a most powerful preacher. His sermons, weighty with thought, fervid with feeling, and in power of the Holy Spirit, made a deep and abiding impression. He died in much peace at Milan, Ohio, March 23, 1865. See Smith, Sa- cred M< mories, p. 288 sq.
Pierce, James Edwin, an American divine of note, was born at West Townsend, Vt., in 1839. He graduated at. Middlebury College in 1801, and at Au- burn Theological Seminary in 1865. On his graduation he was elected to a professorship (of the Hebrew lan- guage and literature) in the last-named institution, which position he retained till his death (at Auburn, July 13, 1870). He was a close student, a thorough and able teacher, and an impressive and popular preach- er.— Appleton's A mer. Cyclop, x, 570.
Pierce, John, D.D., a noted American Congrega- tional minister, was born at Dorchester, Mass., July 14, 1773. He was educated at Harvard University, class of 1793, and then became a tutor in his alma mater. Descended of very humble parentage, he had made his way to college by his own exertions, and maintained his position by the force of bis own industry. Feeling per- suaded that his work was that of the Christian ministry, he took up the study of theology, and March 15, 1797, was ordained over the First Congregational Church, Brookline, Mass., of which he was sole pastor for half a century. He died in this place Aug. 24, 1849, respect- ed by all who knew him, and greatly mourned by the ecclesiastic body to which he belonged. Dr. Pierce was member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences, and of the Massachusetts Historical Society. For several years he was president of the Massachusetts Bible So- ciety. In all matters appertaining to family and liter- ary statistics he was a prodigy. He had 18 quarto vols, of GOO pages each, of his own MS., containing memoirs and memorabilia. He published Half-century Discourse at Brookline (Mar. 1847) : — Sketch of Brook- line, in " Mass. Hist. Collections." 2d ser. vol. ii : — Ser- mon at Ordination of S. Chirk \ 1817) -.—Dudleian Lect. (1821); also occasional Sermons, etc. See Sprague, Annals of the Amer.Pulpit, viii, 331 ; AUibpne, Diet, of Brit, and A mer. A uthors, s. v. (J. II. W.)
Pierce, John J., a Presbyterian minister, was born in Vermont in 1791. He secured his early education principally by his own exertions; graduated at Prince- ton College in 1820, and at the theological seminary in the same place in 1823. He was licensed by the New Brunswick Presbytery, and began preaching at Ports- mouth. Ya.. where he remained until 1824, when he left for Clarksville, Tenn. In 1825 he was elected president of an academy in Elkton, Ky.. which position he held until 1837. Soon after he occupied temporarily the place of one of the professors in Centre College, Dan- ville. Ky. ; then returned again to Elkton ; but subse- quently left, and spent two years in teaching in Illinois and Missouri. < )n his return he took charge of Ridge- wood Church, Ky., where he continued to labor until his death. March 18, 1861. Mr. Pierce was a pure- hearted, simple-minded man ; never attaining any very eminent success in the ministry, but ever contented and happy. See Wilson, Presb. J/i.<f. . 1 Imanac, 1862, p. 116. (J.L.S.)
Pierce, Thomas, D.D., an English divine of note, flourished near the middle of the 17th century. He was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford, and after graduation was presented with a fellowship. In 1648 he was ejected for nonconformity, but was restored un- der the Protectorate, and became prebend of Canterbury and Lincoln; in 1661 president of Magdalen College; in 1071 dean of Salisbury. He died in 1691. Dean Pierce was a man of more than ordinary talent and ac- quisition. In theology he was decidedly Arminian, and published a number of occasional sermons, theolog-
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ical treatises, and controversial tracts. Among these we mention, Th Sinner Impleaded in his own Court, wherein an represented th Great Discouragements from Smiting which th Sinner receivethfrom Sin itself I Lond. 1656, 8vo) : Th* Divim Philanthrope defended against natory Attempts of certain lati printed Papers, entitled, A Correptory Correction. In Vindication of some Notes cona rning God's Decrees, especially of Repro- bation against Barlee (Lond. 1657, 4to) : A Collection : upon Several Occasions (<>xf. 1671, Ito):
i ona rning God's Decrees, of Reprobation (t »xf. L671, 4to) : Pacifica- torium Orthodoxa Theohgia Corpusculum. Secunda huic edition* acci-.<.« runt. /'« /» rfictis.<im<> />>! mltii ml normam divinam exigendo [Anon.] (Lond. L685, sin. 8vo). Dean Pierce also greatly assisted bishop Walton in the publication of the Polyglol Bible. He was the decided antagonist of Baxter, and. according to Wat- son, "compelled that great controversialist to quail be- fore him" | Works, i, 469). Sec Wood, Athena eases; Lowndes, Brit. Librarian, p. 1080; Watts, Bibl. Brit. s. v. (J.H.WO
Pierce, Thomas A., a minister of the Methodist Episcopal ( 'hiir.li. South, was born in Fauquier < '<>.. Ya.. Oct. 25, 1819; was converted al the age of twenty; and feeling called of God to the work of the Bacred ministry, joined the Virginia < inference at i lharlottesville in the fall of 1847, and was appointed to the Stafford Circuit. In 1848 he was sent to Rappahannock and Culpepper; in 1849 he went to King William, where he travelled two years; in 1852 and 1853 he labored on the .lames City and New Kent Circuit; in 1854, in King George; L855, in New Hampshire; 1856 and 1857, in Hanover. In 1858 lie was again in King William; in 1859 he was sent to Greensville; in 1860 and 1861 he had Ids pas- toral charge in Mecklenburg; in 1862 and 1863, in Camp- bell; 1864 and 1865, in Appomattox. In all of these appointments he labored like a man of God, and was instrumental in doing much good. Failing health obliged him in 1866 to take a superannuated relation. He died Feb. 26, L867. See Minutes of Ann. Conf. of the M. A'. Church, South, 1868.