Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1889, volume 6).djvu/561

Rh (now Trinity) college, where he was graduated in 1835. He studied theology with Dr. Samuel F. Jarvis, and was ordained by Bishop Thomas C. Brownell in 1838. From 1837 till 1840 he served as tutor in Washington college, and he then spent a year in travel in England and France. On his re- turn he became assistant minister of Christ church, Middletown, Conn., from which he was called to the rectorship of St. George's church, Schenectady, N. Y. While rector in Schenectady his influence was great in his parish, among the students of Union college, and he was nearly elected provis- ional bishop of New York on the suspension of Bishop Benjamin T. Onderdonk. In 1848, when he was but thirty-one years old, he was chosen presi- dent of Trinity college, and the announcement of his election was received with great enthusiasm, while his inaugural address showed the scholarly principles on which he considered all true educa- tion to be based. In connection with the presi- dency Dr. Williams held the professorship of his- tory and literature. In 1851 Dr. Brownell, bishop of Connecticut, having asked that, on account of his growing infirmities, an assistant bishop might be elected, the diocesan convention chose Dr. Will- iams, and he was consecrated on 29 Oct. He was able to continue in charge of the college for two years, but in 1853, as his episcopal duties became more numerous and urgent, he felt obliged to re- tire from the presidency. Under his administra- tion the college had increased in prosperity, its course of instruction had been developed, and its library funds had been increased. Owing to Dr. Williams's profound learning in theology and his gifts as a teacher, several graduates and others studying for holy orders had been for a few years under his care, and an informal theological de- partment had grown up at the college. In 1854 a charter was obtained for the Berkeley divinity- school, and it was located at Middletown. In this school Bishop Williams has been from the begin- ning the dean and the principal instructor in doc- trinal theology, in the history of the Reformation, and in the Prayer-Book, and his lectures at differ- ent times have covered the whole range of theo- logical studies. Many of the cler- gy of the Episco- pal church in this country have thus been trained by him. He has also con- tinued to lecture on history at Trinity college, of which he was made vice-chan- cellor at the time of his resigna- tion of the presi- dency, succeed- ing to the chan- cellorship when he became bish- op of the diocese on the death of Bishop Brownell in 1885. For many years before that time the whole administration of the diocese had been in Bishop Williams's hands. In 1881 he was appointed the first lecturer at the General theological seminary, New York, on the Bishop Paddock foundation, and in the same year he delivered the first series of Bedell lectures at the seminary and college in Gambier, Ohio. At the general conventions of 1883 and 1886 he was chosen chairman of the house of bishops, and he has constantly served on important committees of the bishops and joint commissions of the convention. In 1884 he visited Scotland for the centenary commemoration of the consecration of the first bishop of Connecticut, and delivered the commemorative sermon in Aber- deen. Bishop Williams is a churchman of the type that was once represented by Dean Hook and Bishops Wilberforce and Wordsworth. Since his ordination he has been a diligent student of ecclesi- astical history. He is remarkable for his genial manners to young men, and in an eminent degree exerts a personal influence over his students. His manner in the pulpit is dignified and impressive, and he is one of the most eloquent speakers in the Protestant Episcopal church, of which he is now the presiding bishop. He received the degree of D. D. from Union in 1847, Trinity in 1849, Colum- bia in 1851, and Yale in 1883, and that of LL. D. from Hobart in 1870. His literary works include many and valuable contributions to the " American Church Quarterly Review," the " Churchman," and other periodicals, a charge on " Everlasting Pun- ishment " (1865), with many occasional sermons and addresses; "Ancient Hymns of Holy Church" (Hartford, 1845) ; " Thoughts on the Gospel Mira- cles " (New York, 1848) ; Paddock lectures on " The English Reformation" (1881); Bedell lectures on " The World's Witness to Jesus Christ " (1882) ; historical sermons in the " Seabury Centenary " (1885) ; and " Studies in the Book of Acts " (1888). He also edited, with additional notes, an American edition of Bishop Harold Browne's "Exposition of the Thirty-nine Articles " (1864).

WILLIAMS, John Ethurhuld. Canadian clergyman, b. in Carmarthen, Wales, 19 Dec, 1817. He removed to Canada in 1833, was ordained a minister of the Methodist church in 1850, elected president of the London conference in 1874, was joint representative to the general conference of the Methodist Episcopal church of the United States in 1876, and was president of the united general conference in 1883 for the unification of the various branches of the Methodist church in Canada. He was joint representative at the cen- tennial conference of the Methodist churches of the United States in 1884, and in 1885 was ap- pointed general superintendent of the Methodist church in Canada. Victoria university gave him the degree of D. D. in 1877.

WILLIAMS, John Foster, naval officer, b. in Boston, Mass., 12 Oct., 1743; d. there, 24 June, 1814. He early adopted the life of a sailor, and in the spring of 1779 commanded the Massachusetts cruiser " Hazard," of fourteen guns, with which in that year he captured the " Active," eighteen guns, and performed other gallant exploits. In 1780 he was given the " Protector," another Massachusetts ship, with which, on 9 July, 1780, he fought the letter-of -marque " Admiral Duff," which blew up after an action of an hour and a half. After tak- ing many prizes he had a running fight with the frigate " Thames " and narrowly escaped capture. He commanded the " Hazard " again in the unfor- tunate expedition to Penobscot river, in which that vessel with others was lost. Late in October he set out for a cruise in the West Indies, where he took valuable prizes ; but, falling in with two ships of superior force, he was captured and remained a Erisoner till the peace. From 1790 until his death e was in command of a revenue-cutter.

WILLIAMS, John Joseph, R. C. archbishop, b. in Boston, Mass., 27 April, 1822. He studied in