The portrait of William Bentley is a George Southward copy of James Frothingham's oil portrait (1832) purchased in 1944.
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Rev. William Bentley
| William Bentley was
born in 1759 to Joshua and Elizabeth Bentley. Following his graduation from
Harvard in 1777, Bentley spent a few years working as a school teacher.
He returned to Harvard in 1780 where he tutored Latin and Greek. In 1783,
Bentley left Harvard for the East Church at Salem where he was ordained.
He spent his remaining thirty-six years at this church. Never married, Bentley
spent his free time pursuing hobbies and interests outside of his church
work. He was an important figure in New England affairs as well as a regular
contributor to the Salem Register. His work with this newspaper allowed
him to become a well recognized figure in the history of American journalism.
Bentley was a member at the Massachusetts Historical Society, as well as
a much distinguished linguist. Over the years, Bentley mastered more than
a dozen languages. However, it was Bentley's love of books that distinguished
him as a scholar, as well as attached him to the original library of Allegheny
College. Though Bentley was not interested in material objects, and lived
what some may call a scanty life, he was able to compile a private library
containing over 4,000 volumes of books throughout his life. His library
has been called one of the nation's most comprehensive private libraries.
Included in his library were books on European and Near Eastern languages,
scientific, philosophical, literary and political writings. At his death
in 1819, Bentley bequeathed his historical and natural books to the American
Antiquarian Society, and bequeathed the remainder of his extensive library
to Allegheny College. In the years after his death, Bentley became well
known for his diary that recorded life in a New England seaport. The diary
not only recorded life in the town, but also explored the mind and character
of Bentley himself, giving the public a wide range of insight into William
Bentley 's life and interests.
The portrait of William Bentley is a George Southward copy of James Frothingham's oil portrait (1832) purchased in 1944. |
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| Special Collections | Original Library | Timothy Alden Biography | James Winthrop Biography | Isaiah Thomas Biography |
Copyright 2001. Pelletier Library, Allegheny College All Rights Reserved
Sited Designed by Emily MacKinnon, Class of 2000 and Jane Westenfeld / Maintained by Jane Westenfeld
Date Created March 14, 2001 Last Modified: January 16, 2002
URL: http://library.allegheny.edu/Special/BioBentley.htm