Chauncey Allen Goodrich
Encyclopedia
Chauncey Allen Goodrich (October 23, 1790 – February 25, 1860) was an American clergyman, educator and lexicographer. He was the son-in-law of Noah Webster
and edited his Dictionary
after his father-in-law's death.
and Anne Willard (Allen) Goodrich. His father was a lawyer and member of the United States House of Representatives
. Chauncey was also the grandson of the Reverend Elizur Goodrich. His uncle, also named Chauncey Goodrich
, was also a member of the U.S. House and Senator from Connecticut
.
in 1810, served as tutor there in 1812-1814, and afterward studied theology. He settled in Middletown, Connecticut
, in 1810 as pastor of the Congregational church
there, but feeble health obliged him to leave in 1817. In 1820 he was chosen president of Williams College
, but declined the office. He was professor of rhetoric and oratory in Yale from 1817 until 1839 when he was transferred to the chair of pastoral theology in that institution, which chair he held till his death.
Dr. Goodrich exerted a wide influence, and co-operated with many learned societies. As a teacher he inspired his pupils to the highest effort. He was a liberal benefactor of the Yale divinity-school. The degree of D.D. was conferred on him by Brown University
in 1835. Dr. Goodrich made numerous contributions to periodical literature, and in 1829 established the Christian Quarterly Spectator, with which he was connected nearly ten years, being its sole editor after 1830. While a tutor at Yale, Dr. Goodrich published a Greek grammar (1814) based on the grammar by C.F. Hachenberg
, and in 1830, at the request of President Timothy Dwight
, he prepared a text book, Greek and Latin Lessons (1832), which was extensively used in New England
.
Soon after the publication of the American Dictionary, by his father-in-law, Noah Webster
(1828), Dr. Goodrich was entrusted by its author with power to superintend an abridgment of the work, which he did, conforming the orthography more nearly to the common standard. This edition, in the preparation of which he was assisted by Benjamin Silliman, Denison Olmsted, and others, was issued in 1847, and the “Universal” edition of the same work appeared in 1856. In 1859 the supplement was issued, to which comprehensive additions were made. At the time of his death Dr. Goodrich was engaged on a radical revision of the dictionary, but he died before the work received its final form, and it was published under the supervision of Noah Porter
(1864). He was also engaged in preparing a new edition of the Bible, with English text, as one of the American Bible society's “committee on versions.” Dr. Goodrich was also the author of Select British Eloquence (1852). A commemorative discourse by President Theodore D. Woolsey has been published as a pamphlet (New Haven, 1860).
Noah Webster
Noah Webster was an American educator, lexicographer, textbook pioneer, English spelling reformer, political writer, editor, and prolific author...
and edited his Dictionary
Webster's Dictionary
Webster's Dictionary refers to the line of dictionaries first developed by Noah Webster in the early 19th century, and also to numerous unrelated dictionaries that added Webster's name just to share his prestige. The term is a genericized trademark in the U.S.A...
after his father-in-law's death.
Family
Goodrich was the son of ElizurElizur Goodrich
Elizur Goodrich was an American lawyer and politician from Connecticut.-Biography:Born in Durham, Connecticut, he was the son of Elizur Goodrich. He graduated from Yale in 1779, was a tutor there from 1781 to 1783, and studied law. After his admission to the bar in 1783, he practiced in New Haven...
and Anne Willard (Allen) Goodrich. His father was a lawyer and member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. Chauncey was also the grandson of the Reverend Elizur Goodrich. His uncle, also named Chauncey Goodrich
Chauncey Goodrich
Chauncey Goodrich was an American lawyer and politician from Connecticut who represented that state in the United States Congress as both a senator and a representative.-Biography:...
, was also a member of the U.S. House and Senator from Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
Biography
Chauncey Allen Goodrich graduated from YaleYale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1810, served as tutor there in 1812-1814, and afterward studied theology. He settled in Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
, in 1810 as pastor of the Congregational church
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
there, but feeble health obliged him to leave in 1817. In 1820 he was chosen president of Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
, but declined the office. He was professor of rhetoric and oratory in Yale from 1817 until 1839 when he was transferred to the chair of pastoral theology in that institution, which chair he held till his death.
Dr. Goodrich exerted a wide influence, and co-operated with many learned societies. As a teacher he inspired his pupils to the highest effort. He was a liberal benefactor of the Yale divinity-school. The degree of D.D. was conferred on him by Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in 1835. Dr. Goodrich made numerous contributions to periodical literature, and in 1829 established the Christian Quarterly Spectator, with which he was connected nearly ten years, being its sole editor after 1830. While a tutor at Yale, Dr. Goodrich published a Greek grammar (1814) based on the grammar by C.F. Hachenberg
Caspar Friedrich Hachenberg
Caspar Friedrich Hachenberg , was rector of the Latin School of Wageningen, The Netherlands and writer of Greek and Latin grammars....
, and in 1830, at the request of President Timothy Dwight
Timothy Dwight
Timothy Dwight may refer to:*Timothy Dwight College, a residential college at Yale University*Timothy Dwight IV , President of Yale University from 1795–1817*Timothy Dwight V , President of Yale University from 1886–1899...
, he prepared a text book, Greek and Latin Lessons (1832), which was extensively used in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
.
Soon after the publication of the American Dictionary, by his father-in-law, Noah Webster
Noah Webster
Noah Webster was an American educator, lexicographer, textbook pioneer, English spelling reformer, political writer, editor, and prolific author...
(1828), Dr. Goodrich was entrusted by its author with power to superintend an abridgment of the work, which he did, conforming the orthography more nearly to the common standard. This edition, in the preparation of which he was assisted by Benjamin Silliman, Denison Olmsted, and others, was issued in 1847, and the “Universal” edition of the same work appeared in 1856. In 1859 the supplement was issued, to which comprehensive additions were made. At the time of his death Dr. Goodrich was engaged on a radical revision of the dictionary, but he died before the work received its final form, and it was published under the supervision of Noah Porter
Noah Porter
Noah Porter, Jr. was an American academic, philosopher, author, lexicographer and President of Yale College .-Biography:...
(1864). He was also engaged in preparing a new edition of the Bible, with English text, as one of the American Bible society's “committee on versions.” Dr. Goodrich was also the author of Select British Eloquence (1852). A commemorative discourse by President Theodore D. Woolsey has been published as a pamphlet (New Haven, 1860).