Clergyman; born in
North Haven, Conn., Nov. 29, 1727; graduated at Yale College in 1746; was tutor there for six years.
Dr. Franklin having sent an electrical apparatus to Yale College,
Stiles and one of his fellow-tutors entered with zeal upon the study of this new science, and performed the first electrical experiments in
New England.
In consequence of religious doubts, he began to study law in 1752, and gave up preaching, for which he had been licensed in 1749.
His doubts having been removed, he resumed preaching at
Newport, R. I., in 1755.
In 1777 he was invited to the presidency of Yale College and accepted, entering upon the duties June 23, 1778, and filled that office until his death.
After the death of
Professor Daggett, in 1780,
Dr. Stiles filled his place himself as
Professor of Divinity.
By hard study he learned several
Oriental languages, and corresponded with Jesuits in Latin, and
Greek bishops in
Greek.
He was one of
[
425]
the most gifted men of his time.
He wrote
History of three of the judges of King Charles I.
（1794）—Goffe,
Whalley, and
Dixon, who came to this country.
His published addresses and sermons, and his manuscript diary and other works are preserved at Yale in 45 bound volumes.
He died in
New Haven, Conn., May 12, 1795.
