Latta, James

Latta, James D.D., a Presbyterian minister, was born in Ireland in 1732; emigrated to America at an early age, and graduated at the College of Philadelphia in 1757. He became college tutor at his alma mater, and pursued the study of divinity. He was licensed in 1758, and ordained as an evangelist in 1759. Two years after he accepted a call from the congregation of Deep Run, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, which he resigned in 1770 for the charge of Chestnut Level, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Here he established a school of long-continued celebrity. During the war he accompanied the American army on their campaign as a soldier, and served as chaplain for a time. He vindicated the introduction of the Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts, and labored faithfully in his ministry till near the close of life. He died January 29, 1801. Latta published a pamphlet showing that the principal subjects of psalmody should be taken from the Gospel, 8vo. — Sprague, Annals, 3:199; Wilson, Presb. Historical Almanac, 1865.