Samuel Doak

Samuel Doak (1749 – 1830) was an American Presbyterian clergyman and educator, a pioneer in the movement for the abolition of slavery.

He was born in Augusta County, Virginia, graduated from Princeton in 1775, studied theology, and was licensed to preach in 1777. He then migrated to the Holston valley, where he established the New Bethel Presbyterian Church (Piney Flats, Tennessee). He later moved to Salem, Tennessee, where he founded Salem Presbyterian Church. He also established an academy which grew into Washington College, of which he was president from 1790 to 1818. In 1818, he removed to Greeneville, Tennessee, where he helped to establish the Tusculum Academy, which in 1844 became Tusculum College.

He would be awarded a the degree of Doctor of Divinity for his tireless efforts at promoting Presbyterianism and education. He was generally known as "the Presbyterian Bishop." After becoming convinced of the iniquity of slavery, he freed his own slaves in 1818. Afterwards, for the rest of his life, advocated immediate abolition. He was referred to as being "the apostle of learning and religion in the West."

He now has three school's named in his memory in Greeneville, Tennessee. Doak Elementary School, which is located less then a mile away from his two story home. Chuckey-Doak Middle School, which is estimated at a mile away, and Chuckey-Doak High School which is directly behind the middle school.

References

* Sprague, "Annals of the American Pulpit", volume III (New York, 1857)
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* [http://www.salempreschurch.com Salem Presbyterian Church]