Bidwell, Walter H Dd

Bidwell, Walter H. D.D.

a Presbyterian minister, was born at Farmington, Conn., June 21, 1798. He graduated at Yale College, and subsequently at the Yale Theological Seminary. He was licensed to preach in 1833, and subsequently ordained. In 1841 he began to publish the National Preacher, which he conducted nineteen years. In 1843 he became the proprietor of the N. Y. Evangelist, to which he devoted twelve years of laborious service in connection with Dr. George B. Cheever. In 1846 he became proprietor and conductor of the American Biblical Repository, and at the same time editor of the Eclectic Magazine. In 1849 he went abroad for the purpose of recruiting his health, his travels extending through England, France, Switzerland, and Italy. In 1851 he again visited Europe, went to Holland, passed up the Rhine, visited Bohemia and Spain, and other places. After 1853 he was constantly engaged in editorial labors. In 1860 he became proprietor of the American Theological Review, which was united with the Presbyterian Quarterly Review. His health again declining, he took another trip abroad, visiting England, France, Germany, Northern Europe including Russia, and returned through Finland, Sweden, and Denmark. In 1867 he was appointed a commissioner of the United States to Western Asia, during which, in the discharge of his duties, he visited Italy, Egypt, Palestine, Greece, and France. From 1868 to 1880 he resided alternately in London and New York, continuing to discharge his numerous editorial duties. In connection with his younger brother, Oliver B., he published seven large maps of different parts of the missionary field. He died, after a short illness, at Saratoga N. Y;, Sept. 11, 1881. See (N. Y.) Evangelist, Sept.20, 1881. (W. P. S.)