Backus, Azel

Backus, Azel D.D., president of Hamilton College, was born at Norwich, Conn., Oct. 13th, 1765. While yet a boy he imbibed infidel principles, but was reclaimed by the instructions of his uncle, the Rev. Charles Backus. He graduated A.B. at Yale in 1787. He was licensed in 1789, and succeeded Dr. Bellamy as pastor at Bethlem in 1791. Here he labored faithfully, both as pastor and as principal of a classical school, till 1812, when he was elected president of Hamilton College. After five years of successful administration, he died of typhus fever, Dec. 9, 1817. He was a man of good endowments and great industry. — Sprague, Annals, 2:287.