Steel, Robert, Dd

Steel, Robert, D.D., a Presbyterian divine, was. born in the vicinity of Londonderry, Ireland, Jan. 9, 1793. In early boyhood he came to the United States, pursued his preparatory studies in the Academy of Philadelphia, graduated at the College of New Jersey, at Princeton, N.J., and at the Associate Reformed Theological Seminary, New York; was licensed by Philadelphia Presbytery, commenced his labors as a city missionary in that city and vicinity, and (Nov. 9, 1819) was ordained and installed pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Abington, Pa. This was his only charge, and here he performed faithfully and successfully his life work. He died Sept. 2, 1862. Dr. Steel was a good man, and a preeminently effective preacher. The Church was to him "all in all; " the cause of missions seemed to absorb all his interest; and the Sabbath school cause, apparently, possessed his whole heart. See Wilson, Presb. Hist. Almanac, 1863, p. 207. (J.L.S.)