Burhans, Daniel, Dd

Burhans, Daniel, D.D.

a minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church, was born at Sherman, Conn., July 7, 1763. His father served as an officer for seven years in the old French war, at the close of which he settled at Sherman. Daniel's only opportunity for study was about three months of the year, in a district- school, but he prosecuted his studies vigorously and prepared himself for college. About 1783 he began to teach in the public-school at Lanesborough, Mass.; and here he was converted. His friends erected for him a large brick school-house; he built a comfortable residence and abandoned the ministry, towards which he had been looking previous to this time. In the absence of the rector of St. Luke's, at Lanesborough, he sometimes officiated as lay-reader until 1791, when he began the study of theology. Two years thereafter he was ordained deacon, and, the rector of St. Luke's having died, the care of the two churches in that parish devolved upon Mr. Burhans, who, nevertheless, still retained his school. Resolutely entering upon his work, he soon organized two other churches-one at Lenox, Mass., and the other at New Lebanon, N.Y. His health failing, he dismissed his school and devoted himself entirely to his clerical duties. In 1794 he received priest's orders at New Haven, and labored six years at Lanesborough and the adjacent region. In 1799 he became pastor at Newtown, Conn., a pastorate which continued thirty-one years. Resigning his charge in 1830, he officiated foi one year at Woodbury, Roxbury, and Bethlehem.; and in the fall of 1831 took charge of the parish of St. Peter's, Plymouth, Mass., where he remained six years. After this he officiated at Oxford and Zoar, but in 1844 he was compelled, by increasing bodily infirmities, to close his ministry, after which he removed to Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He died there, Dec. 30, 1853, being at the time the oldest minister of his communion in the United States. - Dr. Burhans had great knowledge of human nature; and his mental energy, keen discernment, and profound sagacity supplied, in some measure, his want of scholastic culture. From 1804 to 1826 lie was elected continuously a delegate .to the General Convention. See Sprague, Annals of the Amer Pulpit. v, 410; Amer. Quar. Church Rev. 1854, p. 151.