Landis, Robert Wharton, Dd

Landis, Robert Wharton, D.D.

an eminent Presbyterian divine, son of Samuel Calvin Landis, a descendant of the old Huguenot family of Calvin, was born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 8, 1809. He was converted at seventeen, joined the Baptist Church, of which his parents were members, and commenced his theological studies in the same year. He remained but fifteen months at an academy, and three months under a private tutor, before entering upon his pastoral labors. At twenty he united with the Presbyterian Church, was licensed in 1831, and ordained in 1832. He continued his studies while carrying forward his work as pastor, and became possessed of rare literary attainments. In 1835 he was pastor at Providence and Norristown; in 1839 at Allentown; in 1842 at Bethlehem, N.J.; in 1849 at Hillsdale, N.Y.; in 1852 at Greenville; in 1853 at Paterson, N.J.; in 1856 at Iona, Michigan; in 1860 at Somerset, Kentucky; in 1867 at Wilmington, Del. In all these places his preaching was attended with marked effect upon his hearers, and large numbers were converted. In 1868 he became professor in Danville Theological Seminary, where he remained one year. He died at Danville, Kentucky, January 24, 1883. Dr. Landis was the author of several valuable works, and contributed largely to the religious and literary journals. See Nevin, Presb. Encyclop. s.v.