Richard Fuller (April 22, 1804 – October 20, 1876) was an American Baptist minister and one of the founders of the

Southern Baptist The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is a Christian denomination based in the United States. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination, and the largest Protestant and second-largest Christian denomination in the United States. The word ...

movement.

Early life

Richard Fuller was born on April 22, 1804, in Beaufort, South Carolina. He received his early instruction from Dr. William T. Brautly. At the age of seventeen, Fuller entered Harvard University in Massachusetts. Despite health problems, he graduated with his class in 1824.Henry Mitchell MacCracken, ''Lives of the leaders of the church universal, from Ignatius to the present time'' (1880), p. 697-703. He then studied law in Beaufort, was admitted to the bar and soon rose to eminence in his profession.

Career

Despite his success, during a period of great religious interest in Beaufort he felt it his duty to abandon the law and devote himself to the Christian ministry. At the same time, he decided to leave the Protestant Episcopal Church in which he had been brought up. He converted to the

Baptist Church Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compete ...

under the guidance of preacher Daniel Baker during his revival sermons at the Parish Church of St. Helena. He was at once ordained, and called to the pastorate of the Baptist church at Beaufort. His reputation as a preacher soon became national and his services were widely sought in promoting religious revivals. In preaching, Fuller closely copied the style of French preacher James Saurin. During his residence in Beaufort, he was engaged in two memorable controversies — one with

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, on the claims of the Roman Catholic Church, and the other with President Wayland, of

Brown University Brown University is a private research university in Providence, Rhode Island. Brown is the seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, founded in 1764 as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providenc ...

, on the subject of slavery. In 1836 he traveled in Europe for the benefit of his health. In 1844, Fuller was one of the founders of the Southern Baptist movement, which split from the Northern Baptists over the issue of slavery in the United States, which Fuller and the Southern Baptists refused to oppose. He was more than once

president of the Southern Baptist Convention The president of the Southern Baptist Convention heads the convention and is elected at the Annual Meeting. The president's duties include presiding over the annual meeting; appointing members to SBC committees; serving as an ex officio member of ...

. In 1846, he became pastor of the Seventh Baptist Church in

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, where he spent the remainder of his life. He became the pastor of Eutaw Place Baptist Church in 1871 and remained there until his death.

Writings

In addition to pamphlets and various sermons published separately, he was the author of a volume of ''Sermons'', ''Letters on the Roman Chancery'', ''Correspondence on Domestic Slavery'', ''Argument on Baptist and Close Communion'' (1849), and ''Psalmist''.

Personal life

Fuller married a wealthy widow whose affairs he attended to as an attorney. Fuller died on October 20, 1876, at his home at 87 Park Avenue in Baltimore. He was buried at Green Mount Cemetery in Baltimore.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Fuller, Richard 1804 births 1876 deaths Harvard University alumni Baptist ministers from the United States Southern Baptist Convention presidents Southern Baptists American slave owners 19th-century American clergy