HUNTINGTON, Jedediah Vincent [1815-1862] -- American clergyman and author

JEDIDIAH VINCENT, born in New York City, January 20, 1815, and married Mary Huntington. He was educated at Yale College, and at the New York University, graduating in 1835. He received his medical diploma at the University of Pennsylvania, in 1838. Finding literature more attractive than his profession, he devoted himself mainly to its pursuit. He labored, also, in the educational field, and accepted an invitation to the professorship of mental philosophy, in St. Paul's College, near Flushing, L. I. In 1841 he was ordained in the Prot. Episcopal church, and after a period assumed parochial duty in Middlebury, Vt. Declining health induced him to visit the South, and to reside for a while in Europe, where he spent four years, returning in 1849. While in Europe he became a Roman Catholic. In 1842 he published a volume of poems, among which were, "The Northern Dawn," a descriptive piece, a threnody, "To Emmeline," "The Trysting-place," and translations from the Greek Anthology. Several sonnets completed the volume. The novel, "Lady Alice," appeared in 1849, and was a decided success. Its high artistic merits elicited the applause of critics, and 20,000 copies were promptly sold. Soon followed another novel, "Alban" a poem, "America Discovered", "The Forest", "The Pretty Plate", "The Blonde and Brunette", and "Rosemary".

Dr. H., in 1853-4, edited the "Metropolitan Magazine," at Baltimore, and from 1855 to 1857, the "Leader" at St. Louis. He also lectured in several of our large cities, before associations. He returned to France in 1861, and died at Pau, of consumption, March 10, 1862. A beautiful tribute to his memory and personal worth appeared in the "Tablet," a single passage from which is due to his name, in this record:

"With all his rare mental gifts, Dr. Huntington had the meekness and humility of a child, and had, in a most uncommon degree, the art of endearing himself to all with whom he came in contact. In him we saw combined the finished gentleman and the accomplished scholar, the humble, sincere, practical Christian; as a husband, as a brother, as a friend, as a citizen, Dr. Huntington was all that man ought to be, whilst as an author he has left a distinguished name among American writers. His death leaves a void in the ranks of American literature that will be long and severely felt. Dr. Huntington's health failed rapidly after 'Rosemary' was finished; he traveled to the northwest with some benefit, and by the advice of his physician sailed for France in November 1861, to pass the winter in Pau. In that balmy climate he failed to find permanent relief, but gradually sank, soothed by the tenderest care of wife and friends, and on the 10th of March last went to his rest as calmly as a sleeping infant."

[Huntington Family Association, Huntington Genealogical Memoir, (Hartford, CT 1915)]