F. S. Sampson

F. S. Sampson
President of Hampden–Sydney College
In office 1847 – September 1848
Preceded by	S. B. Wilson (Acting)
Succeeded by	Charles Martin (Acting)
Personal details
Born	Francis Smith Sampson (1814-11-01)November 1, 1814 Dover Mills, Virginia
Died	April 9, 1854(1854-04-09) (aged 39)[1] Hampden Sydney, Virginia
Alma mater	M.A. University of Virginia D.D. Hampden–Sydney College
Profession	Theologian, Professor

Francis Smith Sampson (November 1, 1814 – April 9, 1854) was an American theologian who was acting President of Hampden–Sydney College from 1847 to 1848.[2]

Biography

Sampson was born in Dover Mills, Virginia to Richard Sampson, a respected agriculturist.[3] He began studying theology in 1830 under his maternal uncle, Rev. Thornton Rogers of Albemarle.[3] Sampson continued his studies at the University of Virginia, enrolling on September 10, 1831, and graduating with the rare, prestigious degree of M.A. in July 1836.[3] In November of that year, Sampson enrolled at the Union Theological Seminary then in Hampden Sydney, Virginia where he became a teacher of Hebrew in 1838 and licensed by the East Hanover Presbytery in October 1839, and ordained by the same Presbytery in October 1941.[3]

Sampson was appointed as the Acting President of Hampden–Sydney College at the end of 1847 and served in that role until September 1848 when Charles Martin replaced him.[2] In July 1848, Sampson traveled to Europe to develop and practice his theology, returning in August 1849, having spent the year primarily at the University of Halle and University of Berlin.[4] In October 1848, he was elected professor of oriental literature and languages in the Seminary and soon thereafter received his honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Hampden–Sydney College.[4]

References

1. Dabney, Robert Lewis (1855). A Memorial of the Christian Life and Character of Francis S. Sampson. Richmond, VA: Enquirer Book and Job Press. p. 49. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
2. Brinkley, John Luster (1994). On This Hill: A narrative history of Hampden–Sydney College, 1774–1994. Hampden–Sydney, VA: Hampden–Sydney College. p. 179. ISBN 1-886356-06-8.
3. Dabney, Robert Lewis (1855). A Memorial of the Christian Life and Character of Francis S. Sampson. Richmond, VA: Enquirer Book and Job Press. p. vii. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
4. Dabney, Robert Lewis (1855). A Memorial of the Christian Life and Character of Francis S. Sampson. Richmond, VA: Enquirer Book and Job Press. p. viii. Retrieved October 7, 2014.

Academic offices
Preceded by S. B. Wilson	President of Hampden–Sydney College 1847–1848	Succeeded by Charles Martin