American theologian, born in Hingham, MA, on the 31st of December 1786. He graduated at Harvard in 1804, was appointed mathematical tutor therein 1811; and in 1813 librarian of the university and lecturer on Biblical criticisms and interpretation. In 1819–30 he was Dexter professor of sacred literature. He was among the most distinguished exponents of Unitarianism, equally determined in his protest against Calvinism and in his opposition to the school of Theodore Parker and the naturalistic theology. His chief writings are Reasons for Not Believing the Doctrines of Trinitarians and two works on The Genuineness of the Gospels. He made also a translation of the Gospels. The latter, after his death (which occurred in Newport, RI, on the 18th of September 1853), was edited by his son and Dr. Ezra Abbot.
