At twenty-one years of age, he began his preparation for preaching the gospel at Thetford Academy; in 1828, he graduated from Dartmouth College, and in 1831, he graduated from Andover Theological Seminary.

He was ordained by the Presbytery of Newburyport the same year and sent as a missionary to Wabash, Indiana.

His great work was in founding and building up Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana, of which, in 1834, he was appointed financial agent and professor of rhetoric.

Subsequently, he was made professor of chemistry, mineralogy, and geology.

This article incorporates public domain material from McClintock, John; Strong, James (1867–1887).