Erasmus D. MacMaster
Encyclopedia
Erasmus Darwin MacMaster, D.D. (February 4, 1806 – December 10, 1866) was a 19th-century American Presbyterian pastor, academic and theologian who served as president of Hanover College
and Miami University
. Along with Henry Ward Beecher
, MacMaster was one of the most vocal Presbyterian anti-slavery advocates in Indiana.
He was born in Mercer, Pennsylvania
and graduated in 1827 from Union College
. He was licensed as a Presbyterian minister by the Reformed Presbytery of New York in 1829 and served as a minister in Ballston, New York
from 1831 until 1838 when he became the third president of Hanover College
. He presided over the short-lived move of the college to Madison, Indiana
where it was briefly re-named Madison College in 1845. Hanover quickly moved back to Hanover, Indiana
and MacMaster left to become the third president of Miami University in Ohio
. His Miami presidency lasted from 1845 until 1849 and in 1850 he became a professor of theology at the Theological Seminary in New Albany, Indiana
. He was appointed professor of theology at Theological Seminary of the Northwest (now McCormick Theological Seminary
) in Chicago, Illinois in June 1866 and died there in December of that year.
Hanover College
Hanover College is a private liberal arts college, located in Hanover, Indiana, near the banks of the Ohio River. The college is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . The college was founded in 1827 by the Rev. John Finley Crowe, making it the oldest private college in Indiana. The Hanover...
and Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
. Along with Henry Ward Beecher
Henry Ward Beecher
Henry Ward Beecher was a prominent Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, abolitionist, and speaker in the mid to late 19th century...
, MacMaster was one of the most vocal Presbyterian anti-slavery advocates in Indiana.
He was born in Mercer, Pennsylvania
Mercer, Pennsylvania
Mercer is a borough in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,391 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Mercer County. Mercer is part of the Youngstown–Warren–Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area....
and graduated in 1827 from Union College
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
. He was licensed as a Presbyterian minister by the Reformed Presbytery of New York in 1829 and served as a minister in Ballston, New York
Ballston, New York
Ballston is a town in Saratoga County, New York, USA. The population was 8,729 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from an early settler, Eliphalet Ball.The Town of Ballston is in the south part of the County and is north of Schenectady....
from 1831 until 1838 when he became the third president of Hanover College
Hanover College
Hanover College is a private liberal arts college, located in Hanover, Indiana, near the banks of the Ohio River. The college is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . The college was founded in 1827 by the Rev. John Finley Crowe, making it the oldest private college in Indiana. The Hanover...
. He presided over the short-lived move of the college to Madison, Indiana
Madison, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,004 people, 5,092 households, and 3,085 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,402.9 people per square mile . There were 5,597 housing units at an average density of 654.1 per square mile...
where it was briefly re-named Madison College in 1845. Hanover quickly moved back to Hanover, Indiana
Hanover, Indiana
Hanover is a town in Hanover Township, Jefferson County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. The population was 3,546 at the 2010 census. Hanover is the home of Hanover College, a small Presbyterian liberal arts college. Hanover is also the home of Southwestern High School...
and MacMaster left to become the third president of Miami University in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. His Miami presidency lasted from 1845 until 1849 and in 1850 he became a professor of theology at the Theological Seminary in New Albany, Indiana
New Albany, Indiana
New Albany is a city in Floyd County, Indiana, United States, situated along the Ohio River opposite Louisville, Kentucky. In 1900, 20,628 people lived in New Albany; in 1910, 20,629; in 1920, 22,992; and in 1940, 25,414. The population was 36,372 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of...
. He was appointed professor of theology at Theological Seminary of the Northwest (now McCormick Theological Seminary
McCormick Theological Seminary
McCormick Theological Seminary is one of eleven schools of theology of the Presbyterian Church . It shares a campus with the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, bordering the campus of the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois...
) in Chicago, Illinois in June 1866 and died there in December of that year.