BURR, Aaron, Rev. [1716-1757] -- American clergyman and educator

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Second President of Princeton University. Father of Vice President Aaron Burr, ¤

BURR, Aaron, educator, was born at Fairfield, Conn., Jan. 4, 1716; son of Daniel and Eliza Burr, and grandson of Jehu (2nd) and Mary (Ward) Burr. He was graduated from Yale in 1735, and awarded one of the Berkeley scholarships, which enabled him to pursue his theological studies. In 1737 he was admitted to the Presbyterian ministry, and installed as pastor of the church at Newark, N. J. There he opened a school for boys, which he managed successfully for some years, and in 1748 he was chosen president of the College of New Jersey, which had grown from the school started by William Tennent at Neshaminy, N. J., in 1726, which became known as the "Log College." The school was removed to Newark, N. J., so that he might attend to the duties of the presidency without resigning his parish. The first class was graduated in 1748, and was composed of six young men. In 1752 President Burr married Esther, daughter of Jonathan Edwards. The fruit of this union was a daughter, who married Tapping Reeve, ¤ chief justice of the supreme court of Connecticut, and a son, Aaron, who became vice-president of the United States. President Burr resigned his pastorate at Newark in 1756, and removed the college to Princeton, N. J.

He died of overwork at Princeton, N. J., Sept. 24, 1757. BDNA

 
 

Selected Works

Bookmarks (off-site links)

Associated

• Son: ¤BURR, Aaron, Col. [1756-1836] American lawyer and politician, VPOTUS
• Son-in-law: ¤REEVE, Tapping, Judge [1744-1823] American lawyer, educator and jurist