Hooper, William, Dd, Lld

Hooper, William, D.D., LL.D.

a distinguished Baptist minister, was born near Wilmington, N. C., Aug. 31, 1792, being a grandson of William Hooper, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He graduated from the University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill, in 1808; studied theology one year at Princeton; was appointed professor of ancient languages in his alma mater in 1817; took orders in the Episcopal Church in 1818; was rector of a church in Fayetteville from 1822 to 1824; changed his sentiments on baptism, and joined a Baptist Church; returned to the University of North Carolina, first as professor of rhetoric, and then resumed his former chair as professor of ancient languages. In 1838 he was called to South Carolina, where, for eight years, he was in the department of instruction in the Furman Institute. He was then chosen president of Wake Forest College, N.C., and held this office for six years. He was pastor in Newbern, then president of the Chowan Female Institute, and for the last years of his life was engaged in teaching at Fayetteville and Wilson. He died at Chapel Hill, August 19, 1876. See Genesis Cat. of Princeton Theol. Sem. 1881, page 15. (J.C.S.)