David. Benedict
David. Benedict [1]
the eminent historian of the Baptist denomination, was born at Norwalk, Conn., Oct. 10, 1779. Early in, life he developed a taste for historical reading, which grew almost into a passion with him. He became a member of the junior class in Brown University in 1804, and graduated in 1806. He commenced at once, on leaving the university, to preach for the First Baptist Church in Pawtucket, R. I., where he was ordained, and where he remained for twenty-five years. While pastor of this Church, and it was his only pastorate, he busied himself in collecting materials from various quarters — not only from this country, but from other countries — which he subsequently incorporated into his History of the Baptists. He spent the remainder of his life chiefly in gratifying his love for historical investigations. He died in Pawtucket, R. I., Dec. 5, 1874. Dr. Benedict's published writings, in one form and another, are very numerous Among the principal of them are the following: History of the Baptists (1813): — Abridgment of Robinson's History of Baptism (1817): — Abridgment of his Own History of the Baptists (1820): — History of all Religions (1824): — History of the Baptists Continued (1848); Fifty Years Among the Baptists (1860). — At different times during the last fifteen years of his life, he occupied himself in a thorough study of the history of the Donatists, having finished his task only a few months before his decease. Shortly after his death, the book was published. He also made considerable progress in gathering the materials for a compendium of Church history from the beginning of Christianity. A vast amount of papers prepared on various subjects of historical interest were in his possession at the close of life, which have found their way into the collections of different historical societies. (J. C. S.)
