History of Greenville, (Davidson County) Tennessee United States of America

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Charles Coffin, educator, was born in Newburyport, Mass., Aug. 15, 1775; son of Dr. Charles and Hepzibah (Carnes) Coffin; grandson of Col. Joseph and Margaret (Morse) Coffin, and of John Carnes; great-grandson of the Hon. Nathaniel and Sarah (Brocklebank) Dole Coffin; and great-great grandson of Tristram Coffin, who was born at Brixton, Devonshire, England, about 1632, immigrated to New England with his parents, Tristram and Dionis (Stevens) Coffin, in 1642, and settled in Newbury, Mass., in 1648, where, in 1653, he was married to Judith, daughter of Edmund Greenleaf and widow of Henry Somerby. Charles was graduated at Harvard in 1793 and began to study medicine, but abandoned that profession for the ministry. In May, 1800, he went to Greenville, Tenn., and taught in the Greenville college for one year, when he returned to New England and collected funds and books for the institution. He was married, Oct. 19, 1802, to Susanna Woodbridge, daughter of James Ayer of New Milford, N. H. He was vice-president of Greenville college, 1803-10; president, 1810-27; and third president of East Tennessee college (University of Tennessee), 1827-32. He received the degree of D.D. from Williams college in 1808. He died at Greenville, Tenn., June 3, 1853.

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

History of Greenville, (Davidson County) Tennessee

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