Gardiner, John Sylvester, Dd

Gardiner, John Sylvester, D.D.

a Protestant Episcopal minister, was born at Haverford-West, South Wales, in June 1765. At the age of five years he was sent to America to the care of his grandfather, then a resident of Boston, where he attended school, and after three or four years returned to his father, who was attorney-general on the island of St. Christopher, W.I. Shortly after, John was sent to England, where, from 1776 to 1782, he was a pupil of the famous Dr. Parr. After this he visited his father in the West Indies, and in 1783 went to Boston, which became his permanent home. Partly under the tutorship of his father and partly under that of judge Tudor, he studied law, but abandoned it to enter the ministry, officiating as lay-reader at Pownalboro', Maine, and studying theology. He was ordained deacon in New York city, October 18, 1787, and presbyter, December 4, 1791. For a while he preached at St. Helena, Beaufort, S.C., and then was elected, in 1792, assistant to Dr. Parker, rector of Trinity Church, Boston. A meager support compelled him to teach school. He was chosen rector of the church, April 15, 1805, vice Dr. Parker, made a bishop. After many years of service his health became impaired, and he made a voyage to Europe to recuperate, but died at Harrowgate, England, July 29, 1830. He was a member of the Anthology Club, which published the Monthly Anthology and Boston Review. Among his literary remains are a large number of published Sermons, Addresses, etc. See Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, 5:363.