Williams, William R

LL.D, (Union, 1859), S.T.D. (Columbia College, New-York City, 1837) b. in New-York City, Oct. 14, 1804; d. there, April 1, 1885. He graduated, head of his cla , at Columbia College, New-York City, 1822; studied law for three years in the office of Peter A. Jay, and, on being admitted to the bar, became his partner, and practised law for two years, when the failure of his health compelled him to break off, and go to Eui'ope. On his return he was converted, and, abandoning the law, entered the Baptist ministry, and from 1832 till his death was pastor of the Amity Church (at first in Amity Street, about 1865 transferred to West Fifty fourth Street). He was a trustee of Columbia College, 1838-48. He was a man of great learning, and famous for his eloquence, although his' congregation was latterly very small, for his voice was too weak to fill a large church. He had a library of some twenty you sand volumes. He was the author of Miscellanies, New York, 1850, 3d ed. Boston, 1860; Religious Progre : Discourses on the Development of Christian Character, New York, 1850; Lectures on the Lord's Prayer, 1851, new ed. 1878; God's Rescues; or, the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Son, 1871; Lectures on Baptist History, Philadelphia, 1877; Eras and Characters of History, 1882; numerous discourses (among them the memorable addre upon The Conservative Principle in Our Literature, delivered at Hamilton, N.Y., June 18, 1833, reprinted in Glasgow, and pronounced the greatest of his productions); articles, etc. *