William W. Bennett (educator)

William W. Bennett (1821–1887) was an American Methodist preacher and educator. He served as a Confederate chaplain during the American Civil War of 1861-1865. He served as the President of Randolph–Macon College from 1877 to 1887.

For the Mayor of Teaneck, New Jersey, see William W. Bennett.
William W. Bennett
BornFebruary 24, 1821
Died1887
EducationUniversity of Virginia
OccupationPreacher

Biography

Early life

William W. Bennett was born on February 24, 1821.[1][2][3] He was raised as a Methodist, and 'born again' in 1839 in Portsmouth, Virginia.[3] He attended the University of Virginia in 1850.[3]

Career

He served as a preacher in rural Virginia from 1843 to 1847, and in Charlottesville, Virginia from 1848 to 1849.[3]

During the American Civil War of 1861-1865, he served as Superintendent of the Soldier's Tract Association as well as Confederate chaplain.[3][4] In this latter role, he preached to soldiers who were serving in the Confederate States Army.[3] In the winter of 1865, he ran a blockade in Charleston, South Carolina.[3]

From 1867 to 1877, he served as editor of the Christian Advocate in Richmond, Virginia.[3] His 1877 Narrative of the Great Revival talked about his experience as a Confederate chaplain.[2][5] The book has been digitalized by Tufts University.[6] He wrote two other books about the Methodist faith.[3]

He served as the President of Randolph–Macon College in Ashland, Virginia from 1877 to 1887, when he retired due to failing health.[3] Bennett died later that year.[2]

Bibliography
  • Memorials of Methodism in Virginia.[3]
  • Narrative of the Great Revival (1877).[3]
  • A History of Methodism for Our Young People.[3]
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References
  1. William Wallace Bennett according to the World Catalog and William Woodhull Bennett according to Arlington Cemetery.
  2. Euan Hague, Heidi Beirich, Edward H. Sebesta, Neo-Confederacy: A Critical Introduction, University of Texas Press, 2009, p. 54
  3. Arlington Cemetery
  4. Mark Summers, The Great Harvest: Revival in the Confederate Army During the Civil War, Acton Institute, Volume 21, Number 3
  5. Bruce T. Gourley, Diverging Loyalties: Baptists in Middle Georgia During the Civil War, Macon, Georgia: Mercer University Press, 2011, p. 104
  6. Tufts University: Narrative of the Great Revival
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