Guide to the Ezra Stiles Ely Papers

Ezra Stiles Ely was born in Lebanon, Connecticut, in 1786. He graduated from Yale College in 1804 and studied theology under the direction of his father, the Rev. Zebulen Ely. In 1804 he was licensed and ordained by the West Chester Presbytery as pastor of the Congregrational Church in Colchester, Connecticut, for two years. After serving as chaplain to the New York City Hospital and Almshouse, he was in 1813 called to the pastorate of Old Pine Street Church, Philadelphia. His pastorate was controversial and his theological views caused division in that congregation. While in Philadelphia he served on the board of Jefferson Hospital and was largely responsible for its establishment.

From 1825 to 1836 he was Stated Clerk of the General Assembly and in 1828 was chosen Moderator of the General Assembly. In 1836 he moved to Missouri the establish Marion College, an enterprise that ultimately failed. Ely returned to Philadelphia in 1844 to take charge of the Presbyterian Church in Northern Liberties where he served until he suffered a stroke in 1851. He died in 1861. Ely published several works and was publisher of the religious weekly, The Philadelphian.