Author: Gardiner, John Sylvester John
Biography:
Gardiner, John Sylvester John (1765-1830: WBIS)
He was born in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, the son of John and Margaret (Harries) Gardiner. His father was an American, born in Boston, who had studied law in England and been called to the bar there. The family moved to the West Indies in 1768 when his father was made attorney-general of the island of St Christopher. Gardiner was educated in Boston and in England. Returning to Boston from St Christopher in 1782, he began to study law with his father but chose the church instead and was ordained in 1791. (In the same year, his father published a short poem, The Widowed Mourner, in memory of his wife.) He settled in Boston and in 1794 married Mary Howard; they had at least one child, a daughter. He spent the rest of his career officiating at Trinity Church, combining his ministry with teaching. Many of his sermons, discourses, and addresses were published; he was also the founding president of the Anthology Club and a founder of the Boston Athenaeum. He died on a visit to England and was buried in Harrogate. (DAB)