Caleb Alexander,

D.D. A Doctor of Divinity (DD or DDiv; ) is the holder of an advanced academic degree in divinity (i.e., Christian theology and ministry or other theologies. The term is more common in the English-speaking world than elsewhere. In the United Kin ...

(1755 – April 1828), a native of

Northfield, Massachusetts Northfield is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. Northfield was first settled in 1673. The population was 2,866 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Connectic ...

, and a graduate of

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...

in 1777, was ordained at

New Marlborough, Massachusetts New Marlborough is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,528 at the 2020 census. New Marlborough consists of five villages: Cla ...

, in 1781, and dismissed in 1782. He was again settled at

Mendon, Massachusetts Mendon is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,228 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Mendon is part of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, ...

, and dismissed in 1803. After an ineffectual attempt to establish a college at

Fairfield, New York Fairfield is a Administrative divisions of New York#Town, town in Herkimer County, New York, United States. The population was 1,627 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Fairfield, Connecticut. The town is north of the village of Herkime ...

, erecting buildings, which later became part of the

medical school A medical school is a tertiary educational institution, professional school, or forms a part of such an institution, that teaches medicine, and awards a professional degree for physicians. Such medical degrees include the Bachelor of Medicine, ...

, he took the charge of the academy at

Onondaga Hollow Onondaga Hollow, also known as Onondaga Valley, was a village in Onondaga County, New York, from 1784 to 1926. It was the first county seat and one of the most prominent settlements in the early years of white inhabitation in the region. The villag ...

, where he died in April 1828. He published ''An Essay on the Real Deity of Jesus Christ: To which are Added Strictures on Extracts from Mr. Emlyn's Humble Inquiry Concerning the Deity of Jesus Christ'', 1791; a Latin grammar, 1794; an English grammar, and grammatical elements, the ''Columbian Dictionary of the English Language'' (1800), and ''Young Ladies and Gentleman's Instructor.'' Scholar Peter Martin named the ''Columbian Dictionary of the English Language'' the second US-published dictionary in English. His 550-page dictionary contained many words unique to the United States. Despite advertising "many new words peculiar to the United States", Martin writes that it was largely taken from

Samuel Johnson Jr. Samuel Johnson Jr. (March 10, 1757 – August 20, 1836) was the author of the first English dictionary compiled by an American, ''A school dictionary: being a compendium of the latest and most improved dictionaries''. It was printed in New Haven, ...

's American dictionary that had been published two to three years prior. While it was more commercially successful than Johnson and

Noah Webster Noah Webster (October 16, 1758 – May 28, 1843) was an American lexicographer, textbook pioneer, English-language spelling reformer, political writer, editor, and author. He has been called the "Father of American Scholarship and Education" ...

's contemporary dictionaries, it faced similar critical criticism; one reviewer described the dictionary as "disgusting collection" of words from "the boors of each local jurisdiction in the United States."

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Alexander, Caleb 1755 births 1828 deaths American Christian clergy American Christian writers Writers from Syracuse, New York Yale College alumni People from Northfield, Massachusetts People from Fairfield, New York