William Greenough Thayer Shedd

William Greenough Thayer Shedd (June 21, 1820 – November 17, 1894), son of the Reverend Marshall Shedd and Eliza Thayer, was an American Presbyterian Theologian born in Acton, Massachusetts.

In 1835 Shedd began his studies at the University of Vermont. While there, Shedd became heavily influenced by his mentor, James Marsh (professor of philosophy and disciple of Samuel Taylor Coleridge). Shedd graduated from the University of Vermont in 1839 with an interest in theology and philosophy. Thereafter, Shedd entered Andover Theological Seminary in 1840, studying under theologian Leonard Woods. It was during his time in seminary where Shedd found the Presbyterian doctrine most congenial, in which he became its staunch advocate by being a voice for Calvinism. Shedd concluded his seminary education at Andover in 1843. After a short pastorate at Brandon, Vermont, he was successively professor of English literature at the University of Vermont (1845–1852), professor of sacred rhetoric in Auburn Theological Seminary (1852–1854), professor of church history in Andover Theological Seminary (1854–1862), and, after one year (1862–1863) as associate pastor of the Brick Church of New York City, of sacred literature (1863–1874) and of systematic theology (1874–1890) in Union Theological Seminary. He died in New York City on November 17, 1894.

Dr. Shedd was a high Calvinist and was one of the greatest systematic theologians of the American Presbyterian church. His great work was "Dogmatic Theology" (3 vols, 1888–1894). He served as editor of Coleridge's "Complete Works" (7 vols, New York, 1894), and he also wrote:

*"Lectures on the Philosophy of History" (1856), in which he applied to history the doctrine of organic evolution
*"Discourses and Essays" (1856)
*"A Manual of Church History" (2 vols, 1857), a translation of Guericke
*"A History of Christian Doctrine" (2 vols, 1863)
* "Sermons to the Natural Man" (1871)
*"Theological Essays" (1877)
*"Literary Essays" (1878)
*"Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans" (1879)
* "Sermons to the Spiritual Man" (1884)
*"The Doctrine of Endless Punishment" (1885)

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