Jonathan Edwards

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) was a prominent American revivalist preacher, philosopher, and Congregationalist theologian. He is best known for his fire-and-brimstone sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" delivered in 1741, which became a central text of the Great Awakening, a significant religious revival in colonial America. Born in East Windsor, Connecticut, Edwards entered Yale College at the age of 13 and graduated as valedictorian in 1720. Edwards's other notable work includes his essay "A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections" (1746), which explored the nature of true religion and the role of emotions in faith. In 1758, he became the president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), but his tenure was cut short when he died from a smallpox inoculation.