354 History of Hingham. 



than a year, principally in Italy, and on his return he delivered a 

 course of lectures on European Travel. He published under the 

 title of " Zenobia, or the Fall of Palmyra," vivid representations 

 of ancient life and manners, which had previously appeared in 

 magazines as " Letters from Palmyra." He also wrote and pub- 

 lished many other works. 



He died in Cambridge, Feb. 19, 1852. As a preacher he was 

 somewhat dry and lacking in oratorical effect, and distrustful of 

 his own powers, so that he was sometimes thought to be distant 

 and reserved, but his writings show a force and ability very far 

 above the average. 



Samuel Willard [III. 329] was the son of William and Cath- 

 erine (Wilder) Willard, and was born in Petersham, Mass., April 

 18, 1776. He was fitted for college principally by Rev. Nathaniel 

 Thayer, D.D., of Lancaster, Mass., and was graduated at Harvard 

 College in 1803. After leaving college he was a teacher in Phillips 

 (Exeter) Academy, and a tutor in Bowdoin College, preparing 

 himself for the ministry meanwhile. In 1805 he returned to 

 Cambridge to finish his theological studies. He was licensed to 

 preach by the Cambridge Association and preached his first ser- 

 mon in Deerfield, Mass., March 15, 1807. He was invited to 

 settle there and accepted. Aug. 12, 1807, was the day first ap- 

 pointed for his ordination, and a council assembled composed 

 principally of those entertaining the Calvinistic belief. It was 

 about the time when a separation of the Calvinistic churches from 

 the Arminian was taking place, and after a rigid examination in 

 a session of two days duration, the council refused to ordain Mr. 

 Willard. Another council was called, and he was ordained Sept. 

 23, 1807. " From that time Mr. Willard became a pioneer in the 

 cause of liberal Christianity." His ministry was faithful and 

 acceptable. He was a musician and the author of the " Deerfield 

 Collection of Sacred Music." In 1819 his sight became very much 

 impaired, and in September, 1829, he resigned his pastoral charge. 

 For the last forty years of his life he was blind. After the loss 

 of his sight, he accustomed himself to commit to memory the 

 Scriptures, his hymns, and other writings which were read to him, 

 and the amount of matter which he could accurately repeat was 

 prodigious. He was a member of the American Academy of 

 Arts and Sciences, and in 1826 the degree of S.T.D. was con- 

 ferred upon him by Harvard College. He was the founder of 

 Willard Academy in Hingham, of which mention is made in the 

 chapter on " Education " of this History. 



Dr. Willard died in Deerfield, Oct. 8, 1859. 



