American Educator and Theologian. He was born in North Haven, Connecticut, the son of a minister. He attended Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut and graduated in 1746. He studied theology and was ordained as a minister in 1749, tutoring at Yale from that year until 1755. In 1753 he resigned from the ministry to study law and practice at New Haven, but returned to the cloth two years later and became the pastor of the Second Congregational Church in Newport, Rhode Island. In 1764 he helped to establish the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (presently known as Brown University). He became close friends with Rabbi Raphael Hayyim Isaac Carregal when he resided at Newport in 1773. They often studied together and he learned the Hebrew language to the point where he was able to translate large portions of the Hebrew Old Testament into English. In 1776, when the American Revolutionary War unfolded and British troops occupied Newport, he left and became the pastor of the Congregational Church in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In 1778, he was appointed president of Yale, a position he held until his death. He died in New Haven, Connecticut at the age of 67. In 1961, Yale named a new residential college, the Ezra Stiles College, in his honor.
American Educator and Theologian. He was born in North Haven, Connecticut, the son of a minister. He attended Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut and graduated in 1746. He studied theology and was ordained as a minister in 1749, tutoring at Yale from that year until 1755. In 1753 he resigned from the ministry to study law and practice at New Haven, but returned to the cloth two years later and became the pastor of the Second Congregational Church in Newport, Rhode Island. In 1764 he helped to establish the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (presently known as Brown University). He became close friends with Rabbi Raphael Hayyim Isaac Carregal when he resided at Newport in 1773. They often studied together and he learned the Hebrew language to the point where he was able to translate large portions of the Hebrew Old Testament into English. In 1776, when the American Revolutionary War unfolded and British troops occupied Newport, he left and became the pastor of the Congregational Church in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In 1778, he was appointed president of Yale, a position he held until his death. He died in New Haven, Connecticut at the age of 67. In 1961, Yale named a new residential college, the Ezra Stiles College, in his honor.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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