Notable people · Clergy · Educator
Charles Grandison Finney
Born in Warren, Connecticut, Finney was a leading revivalist who joined Oberlin in 1835 as professor of theology and served as its president 1851-66.
At a glance
- Born
- 1792-08-29
- Died
- 1875-08-16
- Education
- Apprenticed in law under Benjamin Wright, Adams, NY
- Ministerial studies under George W. Gale, Oneida County, NY, 1821-
- Known as
- Clergy, Educator
- Organizations
- Oberlin College
Life story
Charles Finney was born in Warren, Connecticut, in 1792, the youngest of nine, and grew up in western New York. He never went to college and trained as a lawyer before a religious conversion changed his course.
He began ministerial study in 1821 and was married to Lydia Andrews in 1824. In 1825-35 he led huge revivals in what became known as the burned-over district, including Rochester in 1830-31.
He pastored in New York City, then in 1835 joined Oberlin Collegiate Institute in Ohio as a theology professor. Oberlin became known for antislavery work and for admitting Black students and women.
He was Oberlin's second president from 1851 to 1866 and died there in 1875. He married three times.
Timeline
- 1821: Begins theological study (Oneida County, NY) source
- 1824: Marries Lydia Root Andrews (New York) source
- 1830: Rochester revival (1830-31) (Rochester, NY) source
- 1832: Minister of Chatham Street Chapel (New York, NY) source
- 1835: Joins Oberlin as theology professor (Oberlin, OH) source
- 1836: Broadway Tabernacle built for his ministry (New York, NY) source
- 1851: Becomes second president of Oberlin College (Oberlin, OH) source
- 1866: Ends presidency (Oberlin, OH) source
- 1875-08-16: Dies (Oberlin, OH) source
What Charles is known for
- Oberlin president 1851-1866
- Revival lectures (1830s)
Honors and things named for them
- Called the 'Father of Old Revivalism'
Family
- wife: Lydia Root Andrews
- wife: Elizabeth Ford Atkinson
- wife: Rebecca Allen Rayl
- student: Theodore Dwight Weld
Places in Ohio to see
- Oberlin College (Finney Chapel area) (park)
Finney Chapel, 90 N Professor St, Oberlin, Lorain County ZIP 44074 (approximate) · Oberlin · Lorain County · official page
Ohio places
Where Charles Grandison Finney was born, lived, worked and is remembered, with the ZIP code, town and county pages for each.
- Lived: Oberlin, Lorain County ZIP 44074 · Oberlin · Lorain County
Further reading
Sources
Confidence. Medium: the main facts were confirmed, but some details (often an address or ZIP code) were not.
- Wikipedia: Charles Grandison Finney dates, Oberlin years, died in Oberlin (Wikipedia, opened; pointer-level source)