History of Dover, (Kent County) Delaware United States of America

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Biographies:

Samuel Miller, clergyman and author, was born near Dover, Del., Oct. 31, 1769; son of the Rev. John and Margaret (Millington) Miller; grandson of Allumby and Elizabeth (Harris) Millington of Talbot county, Md., and of John Miller, a Scotchman, who immigrated to Boston, Mass., in 1719, where he married Margaret Base of Braintree and conducted a sugar refinery and distillery for several years. Samuel received his preparatory education under his father; entered the senior class of the University of Pennsylvania and was graduated there with first honors, A.B., 1789, A.M., 1792. He was licensed to preach by the presbytery of Lewes, Del., Oct. 13, 1791, shortly after his father's death, and completed his theological studies under the Rev. Charles Nisbet in 1792. He preached in several churches in Delaware; was a colleague to the Rev. Dr. Rodgers and the Rev. Dr. McKnight in the "Brick" and "Wall Street" churches, known then as the First church, New York city, 1793-1809, and sole pastor of the Wall Street church, 1809-13. He was married, Oct. 24, 1801, to Sarah, daughter of the Hon. Jonathan Dickinson and Margaret (Spencer) Sergeant of Philadelphia, Pa. He was moderator of the general assembly of the Presbyterian church in 1806; a founder and director of Princeton Theological seminary, 1812-13, and professor of ecclesiastical history and church government there, 1813-49, and professor emeritus, 1849-50. He was commissioned by Governor Tompkins chaplain of the 1st regiment of the New York artillery in April, 1809. He made strong efforts to promote peace between the two factions of the Presbyterian church. He declined the presidency of the University of North Carolina and of Hamilton college in 1812. He was a trustee of Columbia college, 1806-13, and of the College of New Jersey, 1807-50. He became a member of the American Philosophical society in 1800; a corresponding member of the Philosophical society of Manchester, England, 1804; a founder in 1804 and corresponding secretary of the New York Historical society, and a corresponding member of the Massachusetts and New Jersey Historical societies. He received the honorary degree A.M. from Yale and the College of New Jersey in 1792, D.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and Union college in 1804, and from the University of North Carolina in 1811, and LL.D. from Washington college, Maryland, in 1847. He published over forty political and religious pamphlets including Fourth of July Oration before Tammany Society (1793); Oration before the Society for Promoting the Manumission of Slaves (1797); and he is the author of A Brief Retrospect of the 18th Century (2 vols., 1803); Letters on the Constitution and Order of the Christian Ministry (1807), with a Continuation (1809); Memoir of the Rev. John Rodgers (1813); Letters on Unitarianism(1821); Letters on the Eternal Sonship of Christ (1825); Letters on Clerical Manners and Habits (1827); An Essay on the Warrant, Nature and Duties of the Office of the Ruling Elder of the Presbyterian Church (1831); Letters to Presbyterians on the Present Crisis in the Presbyterian Church in the United States (1833); Infant Baptism (1834); Presbyterianism, the Truly Primitive and Apostolical Constitution of the Church of Christ (1835); Life of Jonathan Edwards and of David Brainerd (reprint, 1837); Memoir of the Rev. Charles Nesbit, D.D. (1840); The Primitive and Apostolic Order of the Church of Christ Vindicated (1840); Letters from a Father to his Sons in College (1843); A Sermon on the Ruling Elderships in the Presbyterian Church, with an Appendix (1843); Thought on Public Prayer (1849). He died in Princeton, N.J., Jan 7, 1850.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Arnold Naudain, senator, was born near Dover, Del., Jan. 6, 1790. His grandfather, a Huguenot, emigrated from France to America and settled in Delaware. He was graduated from the College of New Jersey, A.B., 1806, A.M., 1809, and from the University of Pennsylvania, M.D., in 1810. He served during the war of 1812, as surgeon-general of the Delaware militia; was speaker of the Delaware house of representatives in 1826; was elected to the U.S. senate in 1829 to fill the term of Louis McLane , resigned; was elected for a full term in 1832, and resigned in 1836, when he was succeeded by R. H. Bayard . He was collector of the port of Wilmington, Del., 1841-45. He removed to Philadelphia, Pa., in 1845, where he engaged in medical practice. He died in Odessa, Del., Jan. 4, 1872.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John Patten, delegate, was born in Kent county, Del., in 1746. He was commissioned first lieutenant in the Delaware regiment, Jan. 15, 1776, and major in the Delaware line or "Blue Hen's Chickens," Dec. 14, 1779. He fought in almost every battle from Long Island to Camden, where he was taken prisoner, Aug. 10, 1780, and was on parole until the close of the war. He was a delegate to the Continental congress from Delaware, 1785-86, and was a representative in the 3d congress, 1793-94, when his seat was successfully contested by Henry Latimer, who served the remainder of the term. He was re-elected to the 4th congress, serving 1795-97, and died at Dover, Del., June 17, 1801.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Purnell Frederick Harrington, naval officer, was born in Dover, Del., June 6, 1844. He was ordered into active service from the U.S. naval academy in September, 1863, promoted acting ensign, Oct. 1, 1863, and ordered to the Ticonderoga, and was attached to the Monongahela, 1864-65. He served in the battle of Mobile Bay, Aug. 5, 1864, and in all actions against the Confederate defences of Mobile Bay during the summer of 1864. He was promoted master May 10, 1866; lieutenant Feb. 21, 1867; lieutenant-commander March 12, 1868; commander May 28, 1881, and captain March 1, 1895. He commanded the monitor Puritan from April 15, 1896, to June 18, 1898, serving in the war with Spain under Rear-Admiral Sampson, and was relieved of the command of acoount of illness. He was assigned to the U.S. navy yard at Portsmonth, N.H., Oct. 18, 1989.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor