Jonathan Edwards

For the former Senator from North Carolina, see John Edwards

Minister of a Congregationalist church in Northampton, Massachusetts during the Great Awakening, Jonathan Edwards (1703 – 1758 AD) is best known as the author of the famous sermon "Sinners in the hands of an angry God. However, his most important contribution to the awakening was his book, A Faithful Narrative of the Surprising work of God (London, 1737), which provided guidance to other clergy as to how to conduct a revival. He graduated first in his class from Yale University, and was serving as the president of Princeton University when he received the smallpox innoculation, having been assured it would be safe. However, it was very dangerous and killed him.

His inspiring preaching helped start the Great Awakening, which became a huge religious revival that helped unite the colonies prior to the American Revolution.

Aaron Burr was a grandson of Jonathan Edwards.

References

Frank Lambert, Inventing the “Great Awakening” (Princeton University Press, 1999)