Carmichael, John (4)

a Presbyterian minister, was born at Tarbert, in Argyleshire, Scotland, Oct. 17, 1728. He was educated at the College of New Jersey; studied theology at Princeton; and was licensed to preach by the New Brunswick Presbytery, May 8, 1760. Some time during the same year he accepted a call from the Presbyterian Church at the Forks of Brandywine, Chester County, Pa. This connection was terminated by his death, Nov. 15, 1785. Mr. Carmichael took the side of his adopted country; and in 1775 preached a sermon to the militia of Lancaster County, Pa., in which he maintained the lawfulness of self-defense. This sermon was published, and soon a second edition was called for. So effectually did he succeed in instilling into the minds of the people his own patriotic spirit, that, whenever they were called into service, it is said that not one hesitated, He was a man of an eminently devout and Christian spirit, and indefatigable his labors as a minister. See Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, 3, 228; Alexander, Princeton Coll. of the 18th Cent.