Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/229

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

to his memory was erected in McDowell Park by the State Medical Society. He died in Danville, Kentucky, June 20, 1830.

Baxter, George Addison, born in Rock- ingham county, Virginia. July 22, 1771. He was one of the many preachers and teachers who studied under William Graham at Lib- erty Hall. He traveled as an evangelist in Virginia and Maryland ; for a time he was principal of the New London (Virginia) Academy, in Bedford county. In 1798 he became professor of mathematics and nat- ural philosophy at Liberty Hall, and on the death of Mr. Graham succeeded him as prin- cipal of the institution, which in 181 3 be- came Washington College. In 1829 he re- tired from the presidency, but continued pastoral labors in Lexington. In 1832 he became professor of theolog>' in Union Theo- logical Seminary of Hampden-Sidney, and he continued to labor there until his death. His presidency of the institution lasted for all the remainder of the college year after the death of Mr. Gushing. He died April 14. 1841.

Alexander, Archibald, born in Rockbridge county, near Lexington, April 17, 1772, was of Scotch-Irish stock. He was one of Wil- liam Graham's pupils at Liberty Hall (now Washington and Lee University). It was at Samuel Stanhope Smith's recommenda- tion that Graham was chosen to take charge Of this academy, and he conducted it for twenty years. During the revival of 1788, Alexander accompanied William Graham to Prince Edward, and assisted in the work, aiding further in similar efforts upon his return to Rockbridge. In 1791 he was a member of the general assembly, and in 1794 was again in Prince Edward as pastor

of Briery church. Upon the resignation of Drury Lacy, in 1796, Archibald Alexander was called to the presidency of the college, at the early age of twenty-four. Dr. Alex- ander made an extended tour through the northern and Xew England states in 1801, coming in contact with the representative men of the day in theological thought. In Louisa county. X^irginia, he stopped at the house of James Waddell, the famous blind preacher in William Wirt's ** British Spy," and met for the first time Janetta Waddell, who later became his wife. He returned to Hampden-Sidney in 1802, and resumed the duties of his office, remaining until 1806. In that year he accepted a call to the Pine street church, Philadelphia. In the follow- ing year he was moderator of the general assembly. In his sermon before this as- sembly, he made a suggestion as to a theo- logical seminary. This was at last estab- lished in 1812 at Princeton, Xew Jersey, and Dr. Alexander was chosen senior professor and remained there the rest of his life. Dr. Alexander was pre-eminent for piety, and possessed unrivaled powers as a pulpit ora- tor. He is no less known today through his numerous theological and philosophical works. The most important are: "Evi- dences of the Christian Religion" (1825); "History of the Colonization of the Western Coast of Africa" (1846); "History of the Israelitish Nation" (1852); "Outlines of Moral Science" (1852); "Biographical Sketches of the Founder and Principal Alumni of the Log College" (See Prince- ton). Of his sons, two were distinguished Princeton professors and theological writ- ers. Dr. James W. Alexander and Dr. J. Addison Alexander. A grandson, Dr. Henry Carrington Alexander, was for

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