William Patton

William Patton was born on August 23, 1798 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father was the great patriot, Col. Robert Patton. Robert was captured and held prisoner by the British in the War of Independence and when released served under Lafayette. He was a personal friend of President Madison and served as postmaster in Philadelphia for about 20 years. He died while William was in college.

William graduated Middlebury College in 1818, and went to Princeton Theological Seminary and was ordained. He pastored churches in New York City for 26 years as a Congregationalist minister.

From 1834 to 1837 he was the secretary of the American Education Society. He worked to bring about the World Evangelical Alliance. He founded New York Union Theological Seminary. He made 14 trips to Europe, mostly to preach temperance, and was outspoken against slavery. He was a member of the executive committee of the American Home Missionary Society. He was granted the degree of D.D. from the University of New York.

In the pulpit, he was known for his strong grasp of the subject, simplicity, directness, and freshness. He wrote quite a few books, and edited even more on subjects like Revivals by Jonathan Edwards, and The Cottage Bible. He wrote on the subjects of temperance and prophecy. His last important speech was given at the anniversary of the Congressional Temperance Society in Washington D.C., on Feb. 25, 1877.

He had five children with his wife, Mary Weston.

He died September 9, 1879 in New Haven Connecticut at the age of 81.

Sources:

Appleton’s Cyclopedia of American Biography.

New York Times, September 11, 1879

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