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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF PROFESSOR GOODRICH.

CHAUNCEY ALLEN GOODRICH, the second son of Elizur Goodrichfirst Professor of Law in Yale College—was born in New Haven, Conn., October 23, 1790. He entered Yale College in the autumn of 1806 and graduated in 1810.* For nearly two years subsequent to graduation he was Rector of the Hopkins Grammar School in New Haven, and in 1812 was called to a tutorship in Yale College. While in that office he commenced his literary labors by preparing, at the request of Dr. Dwight, a Greek Grammar for the use of the College, which was published in 1814 and extensively adopted in our colleges, where it continued to be used for nearly twenty years, until superseded by more recent modes of teaching introduced from Europe. At a later period he published two elementary works of the same kind, entitled "Latin Lessons" and "Greek Lessons."

This Class, though consisting of only fifty-four members at graduation, seems to have embodied more than ordinary talent. Among those who have become eminent in various departments of professional and public life, we notice in the Triennial Catalogue the following distinguished names: Samuel F. B. Morse, Inventor of the Electro-Magnetic Telegraph; Abraham B. Hasbrouck, President of Rutgers College; Ethan A. Andrews, Professor in the University of North Carolina, and Author of the Latin Grammar and Latin Lexicon; Eleazar T. Fitch, Professor of Divinity in Yale College; Ebenezer Kellogg, Professor of Languages in Williams College; William W. Ellsworth, Governor of Connecticut, Judge of the Supreme Court, and for a time, Professor of Law in Trinity College, Hartford; Henry L. Ellsworth, Commissioner of Patents; Edward Avery and Frederic Grimke, Judges of the Supreme Court of Ohio.

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In 1815 he entered the ministry, and in the following year was ordained Pastor of the First Congregational Church in Middletown, Conn. In 1816 he married Frances Julia, the second daughter of Dr. Noah Webster of New Haven. After the death of Dr. Dwight, in 1817, the duties which had devolved upon him were divided and a Professorship of Rhetoric and Oratory was instituted. A call to this position was accepted and he accordingly entered upon its duties at the close of the same year.

In 1821, Professor Goodrich received an appointment to the Presidency of Williams College, which office, however, he declined. Owing to protracted ill health, in 1825-6, he was compelled to suspend his labors for upwards of a year, during which period he made an extensive tour in Europe. Soon after his return, Dr. Webster, his father-inlaw, commenced the publication of his American Dictionary of the English Language, in two large Quarto volumes. As this was designed more especially for the learned, and sold for $20.00 per copy, an abridgment in the Royal Octavo form was also required, embracing that part of the work which was most important to the public at large. This, Dr. Webster committed to Joseph E. Worcester, Esq., under the superintendence of Prof. Goodrich, who was authorized to alter the orthography and pronunciation on numerous points, with a view to adapt the work to more general use. These duties prepared him for his subsequent labors in lexicography. The abridgment appeared very soon after the original work, and, for nearly thirty years has been widely circulated throughout our country.

In 1829, Prof. Goodrich became proprietor of a monthly journal published at New Haven, which he changed to the Quarterly Christian Spectator, a review embracing religious and literary subjects, and combining the talent, not only of distinguished officers of Yale College, but of many eminent men throughout the country. Peculiar circumstances gave it great prominence in the theological discussions of the day, and consequently a very extended circulation. He continued in this office about five years, at the end of which period he committed his charge to another editor.

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