Dr. Richard Henderson Rivers

Creator

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Source Collection

University of North Alabama Archives and Special Collections, University Collection-University Portraits, Individual: Presidents, LaGrange-Present, Collier Library 

Identifier

UPI: 6.3/ UPI: 6.22/ UPI: 6.23/ UPI: 6.24

Description

Dr. Richard Henderson Rivers was born September 11, 1814, in Montgomery County, Tennessee. He "converted" in August 1830 at the age of 16 at a protracted meeting which was held in Hardeman County, Tennessee. He joined the Southern Methodist Church and began preaching without a license in April 1831. He did obtain his license in August of that same year. He became an ordained deacon in 1833. He attended his first conference of the church in the fall of 1833, where he met Bishop Robert Paine, who became a great mentor and influence over his life. He became a student at LaGrange College after this meeting. He took his four-year courses in 18 months, studying from 16-18 hours a day, while also teaching a class in Greek at LaGrange. He graduated with honor from LaGrange in 1835, the first graduating class of LaGrange College. He was elected chair of ancient languages at LaGrange in 1836 and stayed in this position until 1843, when he was called to be the president of the Tennessee Conference Female Institute in Athens, Alabama (which later became Athens College). He then was appointed professor of moral science at Centenary College in Jackson, Louisiana in 1848. He was elected president of Centenary College in 1849, where he held this position until 1854. He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity (conferred by LaGrange College) in June 1851.

Date Created

1-27-2026

Date

No date

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