STODDARD, David Tappan

[s. 719] : Born at North amp ton, Ma ., December 2, 1818. His early He education was at Round Hill Academy. studied at Wilhams College; graduated at Yale College, 1838, taking high rank as a scholar, espeIn 1843 he sailed cially in the physical sciences. for Turkey as a mi ionary of the ABCFM, a igned to the Nestor i an mi ion in Persia. Before going to Urmia he visited several mis After learning Turkish sion stations in Turkey. he, on reaching his station, commenced Syriac, that he might preach and also might a ist Dr. Perkins in his translation of the Scriptures into modern Syriac. In five months he was able to instruct a cla of Nestor i an youths, and the male seminary was reorganized and committed to his care. Into this work he threw himself with intense delight. In 1847, Mr. Stoddard’s health being impaired, he went, by medical advice, to Erzerum and Trebizond, where his wife died of cholera in 1848. With consent of the Board he took his orphan children home, returning to his field in 1851. Soon he began to instruct his older pupils in theology, to prepare them for preaching to their countrymen. Besides his other work, he prepared a grammar of Modern Syriac, published in the Journal of the American Oriental Society in 1855. His theological lectures, embracing a full course of doctrinal theology, were deHvered in Syriac. His labors were arduous, and for recreation he turned to astronomy and Stallybra , Edward Strunacli, John meteorology, making observations which brought him into relations with Sir John Herschel and His other eminent scientists of that period. varied talents, his energy and activity, his devoted piety, his winning, genial manner, made Mr. Stoddard a man of mark, respected by all and loved by those who knew him. In 1856 the Persian authorities undertook to liamper the liberties of the mi ion, and Mr. Stoddard was the one naturally chosen to go to Tabriz to secure redre . On his return from this succe ful errand he was attaclced by typhus fever and died January 22, 1857. 719