Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Gildersleeve, Benjamin

GILDERSLEEVE, Benjamin, editor, b. near Norwalk, Conn., 5 Jan., 1791; d. in Tazewell county, Va., 20 June, 1875. He was graduated at Middlebury college in 1814, and after teaching in Mount Zion, Ga., until 1817, he entered Princeton theological seminary, where he remained a year. He became editor of “The Missionary” in 1819, and was ordained an evangelist of the Presbyterian church in August, 1820. His editorial labors continued, and he had charge of “The Christian Observer” from 1820 till 1845. He then removed to Richmond, Va., and became sole editor of “The Watchman and Observer” until 1850, when for the four ensuing years he was associated with the Rev. Moses D. Hoge, D. D., and Rev. Thomas V. Moore, D. D., in the editorship of “The Central Presbyterian.” During his residence in Virginia he preached whenever it was possible, especially in the Virginia penitentiary, where his work was very successful. In advanced years his sight failed him, but he continued his ministry long afterward.