Calvin Chapin was born on July 22, 1763 in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States. He was the fourth son of Deacon Edward Chapin of Chicopee, Massachusetts, and his wife Eunice Colton. His early years were spent after the manner of farmers’ sons of the period.
At the age of fifteen Chapin served for six months as a fifer in a Revolutionary militia company. His preparation for college, which was delayed somewhat by the war, was completed under Reverend Charles Backus of Somers, Connecticut. At Yale he was one of the best scholars of his class, winning the Berkeleian scholarship or “Dean’s Bounty, ” and graduating in 1788. After two years as a successful and popular teacher in Hartford, he began the study of theology under Reverend Nathan Perkins of West Hartford, at the same time continuing to teach, he was licensed to preach by the Hartford North Association in October 1791.
Chapin served as tutor at Yale College from 1791 to 1794. This was an eminently successful period of his life, and one upon which he always looked back with much satisfaction. On April 30, 1794, he was ordained pastor of Stepney Parish, Wethersfield (now Rocky Hill), Connecticut, where he remained for life. His salary during his entire ministry was $333 per year.
From 1805 to 1831 he was a trustee of the Missionary Society of Connecticut in whose interests he was very active, making in 1806 a journey to Ohio to investigate certain difficulties that had there arisen in connection with the work. He was prominent in forming the Connecticut Bible Society in 1809, and in 1810 was one of the five founders of the American Board of Foreign Missions, serving as its recording secretary for thirty-two years. He was one of the founders of the Connecticut Society for the promotion of Good Morals, in 1813, and was active in its affairs till its dissolution. In 1816 he became a member of the board of visitors of Andover Seminary and was clerk of that board till 1832. He was a member of the Yale Corporation from 1820 to 1846, and was on its prudential committee for twenty-five years. His published works consist of several sermons and an essay on Sacramental Wines (1835).
Chapin was a pioneer in the temperance cause. He took an extreme stand as early as 1812 and for a time went so far as to persuade his people to abolish the sacramental use of wine.
Chapin was a member of the Missionary Society of Connecticut, the Connecticut Bible Society and Connecticut Society for the promotion of Good Morals.
Chapin was tall and well proportioned and made a rather ungainly appearance in tire pulpit. He was practical, possessed marked independence of character, and had a pithy and telling way of putting things. In the pulpit he was very solemn. But on all other occasions his wit was much in evidence, often subjecting him to criticism. His tastes were scholarly, and he read the Latin and Greek classics all his life.
On February 2, 1795, Chapin was married to Jerusha, daughter of Reverend Jonathan Edwards of New Haven.
