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Burnham, Samuel

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

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a Congregational layman and editor, was born at Rindge, N. H., Feb. 21, 1833. His father was Rev. Amos W. Burnham, minister at Rindge from youth to old age. Samuel was educated at New Ipswich and Francistown, and entered Williams College in 1851. On account of impaired health, he was compelled to retire in his junior year, and it was not until 1868 that he recovered. On leaving college, he went South; returned to Rindge, where he taught for a time, and then assumed charge of the high-school in Amherst. Soon relinquishing this post, he went to Boston in 1857, and was engaged in literary occupations. He died in Cambridge, Mass., June 22,1873. As a writer he developed some poetic power, but perhaps excelled in critical analysis. He assisted in the preparation for the press of Gen. Wm. H. Sumner's History of East Boston. Among other works of this nature, he prepared the sketches of Gov. Andrew and Charles Sumner for the work entitled Massachusetts in the War, and also various articles for Appleton's Cyclopcedia. His last labor, probably, was the supervision of the publication -of Sumner's Speeches, under the direction of Sumner himself. His chief literary work was in connection with various periodicals. At the time of his death he was one of the editors of the Congregational Quarterly, and -for a year and a half was connected editorially with the Congregationalist. After leaving this journal, he was engaged on the Watchman and Reflector as its literary editor. He was distinguished for his accurate literary taste, which he exhibited in his published criticisms. See Cong. Quarterly, 1874, p.' 2.