Burgess, Ebenezer, Dd

Burgess, Ebenezer, D.D.

a Congregational minister, was born in Wareham, Mass., April 1, 1790. He sprang from a Puritan stock, his ancestors being among the early settlers of Sandwich, Mass. He graduated from Brown University in 1809, and on leaving college had charge, for two years, of the Latin School connected with the university, and for some time was a tutor in the college. He commenced the study of theology in 1812, with Rev. Dr. Emmons of Franklin, Mass., and completed his course of study at Andover. On leaving the seminary, in 1815, he became professor of mathematics and natural philosophy in the University of Vermont, which office he held for two years, and then resigned to accept an appointment from the American Colonization Society, by whom he was sent to the west coast of Africa, on a mission of inquiry, being accompanied by Samuel J. Mills. The result of this mission was the commencement of what has since become the republic of Liberia. Upon his return he devoted another year to theological study under the Rev. Dr. E. D. Griffin, then a pastor in Newark, N. J. His ordination took place March 14, 1821, and he became pastor of the First Congregational Church in Dedham, Mass., where he remained until his death, Dec. 5, 1870. He published a few occasional discourses, a volume entitled The Dedham Pulpit, and another on The Burgess Genealogy. (J. C. S.)