Wilson, Robert G, Dd

Wilson, Robert G., D.D.

a Presbyterian divine, was born in Lincoln County, N. C., Dec. 30, 1768. He pursued his preparatory studies at an academy in Salisbury, N.C.; graduated at Dickinson College in 1790; studied theology privately; was licensed to preach April 16, 1793, by the Presbytery of South Carolina; and was ordained and installed pastor of Upper Long Cane Church, in Abbeville District, May 22, 1794. He was offered a professorship in South Carolina College, and was also invited to become principal of an academy in Augusta, Ga.; but he declined these offers, and accepted, in 1805, a call to become pastor of a small Church, then lately organized, in Chillicothe, O., where he remained nineteen years, greatly beloved by his people and signally blessed in his labors. In 1824 he resigned his charge by advice of the presbytery, and accepted an invitation to the presidency of the Ohio University, at Athens, over which he continued to preside until 1839, when, on account of the increasing infirmities of age, he resigned the office, returned to Chillicothe, and engaged to preach as a stated supply for the Union Church. He died April 17,1851. Dr. Wilson was an instructive preacher. He excelled as a member of the judicatories of the Church. In' no situation, however, in which he was placed were the energies of his mind brought into more vigorous and effective exercise than in the presidency of Ohio University. When he, entered upon that office, the institution .was greatly depressed; but he gave to it the whole power of his vigorous mind, and his success, was indicated within a few years by a very considerable increase of both funds and students. He published, three single sermons (1817, 1828, 1829): — a sermon in the Presb. Preacher (1833): — and an Address to the Graduating Class of Ohio University (1836). See Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, 4:122; Foote, Sketches of North Carolina; Allibone, Dict. of Brit and Amer. Authors, s.v. (J. L. S.)