Bissett, John

Bissett, John a clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal Church, a native of Scotland, was born about 1762. After graduating from the University of Aberdeen, he came to America, and was ordained in 1786 by bishop Seabury. He was rector of Shrewsbury Parish, Md., in 1789, and the same year was a deputy in the General Convention. In the session of the same body in 1792 he was elected secretary. During that session he was chosen third assistant minister of Trinity Church, New York city, a call which he accepted. He was a member also of the General Convention of 1795. As a preacher he was remarkable for his eloquence. Besides this, he was a ripe scholar and a sound theologian. While connected with Trinity Church, he held for several years the professorship of rhetoric and belles-lettres in Columbia College. In consequence of intoxication he was compelled to resign. He returned to Scotland, and died in obscurity about 1810. See Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, 5, 443.