Richard Furman › Recommendations

Furman, Richard. (Esopus, New York, October 9, 1755--August 25, 1825, Charleston, South Carolina). Baptist. Rhode Island College, honorary A.M. 1792; honorary D.D. 1800; South Carolina College, honorary D.D. 1807. Pastorates at High Hills of Santee, South Carolina, 1774-1778; Charleston, S.C., 1778-1825. President of the first Baptist triennial convention, 1814-1820. One of his finest hymns, "Sovereign of all the worlds above" was published (with two others) in his America's Deliverance and Duty (Charleston, 1802), and was subsequently included in several hymnals. The original fourth stanza was apparently inspired by William Billings' famous "Chester." See Harvey R. Cook, A Biography of Richard Furman (Greenville, S.C.: Baptist Courier, 1913).

--David W. Music, DNAH Archives