GEMMS IDGEMMS-PERSON-002975
NameHenry Dunster
Title
Gendermale
DenominationDissenter
Livedb. ca. 1609-11-26 - d. 1659-02-27 (old)
Linked Manuscripts
Linked SermonsSermon 1 on Jeremiah 8:20 -- preacher (autograph: no)Sermon 1 on Matthew 11:1 -- preacher (autograph: no)Sermon 2 on Jeremiah 8:20 -- preacher (autograph: no)Sermon 2 on Matthew 11:1 -- preacher (autograph: no)Sermon 3 on Matthew 11:1 -- preacher (autograph: no)Sermon on 1 Corinthians 11:28 -- preacher (autograph: no)Sermon on 1 Corinthians 14:40 -- preacher (autograph: no)Sermon on Matthew 1:12-13 -- preacher (autograph: no)Sermon on Matthew 11:7 -- preacher (autograph: no)Sermon on Matthew 12:31-32 -- preacher (autograph: no)Sermon on Matthew 12:31-32 -- preacher (autograph: no)Sermon on Matthew 12:33 -- preacher (autograph: no)Sermon on Matthew 12:33-35 -- preacher (autograph: no)Sermon on Matthew 2:3 -- preacher (autograph: no)Sermon on Matthew 2:9 -- preacher (autograph: no)
Linked Reports
Associated PlacesBury -- HomeMagdalene College -- Place of StudyHarvard College (University) -- PostScituate -- Post
Source of DataCatherine Evans
Biographical Sources ConsultedODNB (Person ID: 8291)
Other NoteDunster was born in Bury, the fifth child of Henry Dunster, a yeoman, (c. 1580-1646) and Isabel (d. 1644). He attended Magdalene College, Cambridge, graduating BA in 1631 and MA in 1634. He was ordained and became highly influenced by the works of William Perkins and Thomaas Goodwin. He took up a post in Bury as curate and school master, where he was committed to puritan reforms. He emigrated to Massachusetts, landing in Boston in summer 1640. On the 22 June 1641 he married Elizabeth Glover (d. 1643), née Harris. She was the widow of Rev. Joseph Glover who had perished on the journey to America. Elizabeth had emigrated with a printing press which she meant to use print religious material to aid the conversion of indigenous groups. Dunster was elected president of Harvard College soon after he arrived in Massachusetts, after the dismissal of Nathaniel Eaton. Dunster developed Harvard following the practices of Cambridge, introducing the study of oriental languages and compulsory church attendance. He led the college to international standing and developed a reputation as a scholar of Hebrew. He would be involved in the composition of the Bay Psalm Book and in efforts to convert indigenous groups. After the death of his first wife, Dunster married Elizabeth Atkinson (d. 1690) in 1644 and had five children. He came to believe that there was no justification for infant baptism and when he refused to present his son for baptism in October 1645 he was forced to resign as college president. He was invited to Ireland by Henry Cromwell, but declined and settled in Scituate, in the Plymouth Colony, where he acted as minister until his death.
GEMMS record createdMay 26, 2020
GEMMS record last editedMay 27, 2020