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Thayer, Nathaniel, D.D.

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a Unitarian minister, was born at Hampton, N. H., July 11, 1769, studied at the Phillips Academy, Exeter, and graduated from Harvard College in 1789.. He immediately took charge of the grammar-school in Medford, and at the same time commenced the study of theology under Dr. Osgood. At the end of a year he returned to Cambridge, and continued to study under Dr. Tappan, divinity professor in the college. He held the position of tutor in college for about a year, and, being licensed to preach, spent the greater part of a year at Wilkesbarre, Pa., supplying a congregation there. On his return to Massachusetts, he preached to the New South Church, Boston, and at Dorchester. He was ordained and installed colleague pastor of the Church in Lancaster, Oct. 9, 1793. The pastor, Rev. Timothy Harrington, lived about two years, and at his death Mr. Thayer succeeded to the sole charge of the Church. He was a man whose services were greatly esteemed and frequently employed; he was a member of no less than 150 ecclesiastical councils; preached the Artillery Election sermon in 1798, and the annual sermon before the Legislature of Massachusetts in 1823. He received his D.D. in 1817 from Harvard. When Lafayette made his tour through the United States in 1825, Mr. Thayer addressed him in behalf of the people of Lancaster. Being somewhat debilitated, he, in June, 1840, set out to travel. He reached Rochester on the 22nd of that month, retired to rest at his usual hour, and died at two o'clock the next morning. His remains were carried back to Lancaster. Mr. Thayer published a number of sermons and discourses, for a list of which see Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, 8:246 sq.