Samuel Willard
Samuel Willard | |
|---|---|
| President of Harvard College | |
| In office 1701–1707(acting) | |
| Preceded by | Increase Mather |
| Succeeded by | John Leverett the Younger |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 31, 1640 Concord, Massachusetts Bay Colony |
| Died | September 12, 1707 (aged 67) Cambridge, Province of Massachusetts Bay |
| Resting place | Granary Burying Ground |
| Spouse(s) |
Abigail Sherman (m. 1664)Eunice Tyng (m. 1679) |
| Occupation | Minister |
| Signature | |
Samuel Willard (January 31, 1640 – September 12, 1707) was a New England Puritan clergyman. He was born in Concord, Massachusetts, graduated from Harvard College in 1659, and was minister at Groton from 1663 to 1676, before being driven out by the Indians during King Philip's War. Willard was pastor of the Third Church, Boston, from 1678 until his death. He opposed the Salem witch trials and was acting president of Harvard University from 1701. He published many sermons; the folio volume, A Compleat Body of Divinity, was published posthumously in 1726.