Heman was the first child of Solomon Humphrey, descended in direct line from Michael Humphrey, who came from England to Dorchester, Mass., and prior to 1643 removed to Windsor, Conn. Solomon's first wife was Mary Ruggles. Heman's mother was Solomon's second wife, Hannah, who was the oldest child of Capt. John Brown, of West Simsbury.
Heman paid his way at Yale University by teaching and was graduated A.B., 1805 and A.M. 1808.
He pastored in Fairfield, Conn., 1807-1817, and Pittsfield, Mass., 1817-1823.
In the third year of his pastorate in Fairfield (1810), he began active proselytizing on behalf of the temperance movement, preaching and writing two books: Intemperance: An Address to the Churches and Congregations of the Western District of Fairfield (1813) and Parallel between Intemperance and the Slave Trade (1828).
Mr. Humphrey received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Middlebury College in 1823. On the basis of his pastoral and temperance work, Humphrey had become well known to the trustees of Amherst Academy (the founders of Amherst College). After the sudden death in June of 1823 of the first president of Amherst College, Zephaniah Moore, Humphrey was called to the presidency as his replacement. Humphrey's first and most lasting contribution as president of Amherst was to procure a charter for the college from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The charter (obtained in 1825) gave the college badly needed recognition and was secured despite opposition from Williams College and Harvard, both of which feared the loss of students and revenue to the upstart institution.
The Humphrey administration began with great enthusiasm. Preferring that his students worship as a group, Humphrey started the Church of Amherst College, leading the Congregational services himself. Great emphasis was placed on the spiritual development of the students, with six revivals taking place during the administration. By 1830 he had founded the Antivenenean Society, whose members were required to abstain from alcohol, tobacco, and narcotics.
President Humphrey resigned his post on January 19, 1844. After leaving Amherst College he relocated to Pittsfield and continued to write, preach and lecture.
Heman was the first child of Solomon Humphrey, descended in direct line from Michael Humphrey, who came from England to Dorchester, Mass., and prior to 1643 removed to Windsor, Conn. Solomon's first wife was Mary Ruggles. Heman's mother was Solomon's second wife, Hannah, who was the oldest child of Capt. John Brown, of West Simsbury.
Heman paid his way at Yale University by teaching and was graduated A.B., 1805 and A.M. 1808.
He pastored in Fairfield, Conn., 1807-1817, and Pittsfield, Mass., 1817-1823.
In the third year of his pastorate in Fairfield (1810), he began active proselytizing on behalf of the temperance movement, preaching and writing two books: Intemperance: An Address to the Churches and Congregations of the Western District of Fairfield (1813) and Parallel between Intemperance and the Slave Trade (1828).
Mr. Humphrey received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Middlebury College in 1823. On the basis of his pastoral and temperance work, Humphrey had become well known to the trustees of Amherst Academy (the founders of Amherst College). After the sudden death in June of 1823 of the first president of Amherst College, Zephaniah Moore, Humphrey was called to the presidency as his replacement. Humphrey's first and most lasting contribution as president of Amherst was to procure a charter for the college from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The charter (obtained in 1825) gave the college badly needed recognition and was secured despite opposition from Williams College and Harvard, both of which feared the loss of students and revenue to the upstart institution.
The Humphrey administration began with great enthusiasm. Preferring that his students worship as a group, Humphrey started the Church of Amherst College, leading the Congregational services himself. Great emphasis was placed on the spiritual development of the students, with six revivals taking place during the administration. By 1830 he had founded the Antivenenean Society, whose members were required to abstain from alcohol, tobacco, and narcotics.
President Humphrey resigned his post on January 19, 1844. After leaving Amherst College he relocated to Pittsfield and continued to write, preach and lecture.
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