Samuel Davies (1723-1761) clergyman 4th President of Princeton University

Samuel was an evangelist and Presbyterian minister. He ministered in Hanover County from 1748-1759 followed by a term as the fourth President of Princeton University. He was one of the first non-Anglican preachers in Virginia and one of the earliest missionaries to slaves in the 13 Colonies.

A child of deeply religious parents he was named after the prophet Samuel.
Unable to afford to send their son o college he was tutored by Rev. Samuel Blair at Faggs Manor, Pennsylvania.

Presbytery of New Castle licensed him to preach in 1746. In 1747 he travelled south to minister to minister to religious dissenters against the Anglican church.
He eventually led 7 congregations in 5 counties despite frail health from tuberculosis.

When his wife Sarah died from a miscarriage in 1747 he too believed he was near death so he threw himself wholeheartedly into his preaching ministry.

He advanced the cause of religious and civil liberty. He helped found the Presbytery of Hanover and served as the first moderator.

He advocated the educating of slaves , including teaching them to read. Slavery became a major focus of his ministry.
You know I have shown a tender concern for your welfare, ever since I have been in the colony and you may ask my own negroes whether I treat them kindly or no, from 1755 sermon by Samuel.

In 1753 he took the dangerous trip to Great Britain with Gilbert Tennent, a fellow minister, to raise money for the College of New Jersey. They stayed for 11 months. Samuel and preached 60 sermons, and together they raised £4,000 .(equivalent to $230,000 today) through church collections.

In 1759 the college asked him to be their president. He became the fourth president of what is now known as Princeton University. On New Year’s Day 1761 he preached his last sermon quoting Jeremiah 28 v16. 1 will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shall die.*

Almost prophetically Samuel died one month later, on 4th February, from pneumonia.
Samuel accomplished much despite his relatively short life. He was one of the major contributors to the Great Awakening - a series of religious revivals which caused America to break away from the Church of England.