David Rice was an American Presbyterian clergyman.
Background
David Rice was born on December 29, 1733 in Hanover County, Virginia, the son of David Rice, a poor but highly respected farmer; and the grandson of Thomas Rice, an Englishman of Welsh extraction, who emigrated to Virginia at an early date. Upon a return trip to England, to inherit an estate, he was either murdered or lost at sea and was never heard of again. Both the younger David's parents were members of the Established Church, and both were opposed to slavery, the father for economical and the mother for moral purposes. While still very young, David came under Presbyterian influences, including the preaching of Dr. Samuel Davies, and at about the age of twenty united with the Presbyterian Church.
Education
Deciding to study for the ministry, he began his classical studies under Rev. John Todd, a Presbyterian minister. When, in 1759, Davies became president of the College of New Jersey, Rice entered the junior class there and graduated in 1761. Returning to Virginia, he studied theology under Todd, and was licensed to preach by the Hanover Presbytery in 1762.
Career
He at once entered upon evangelistic work in Virginia and North Carolina, but late in 1763 settled in Hanover, Virginia, where he was ordained in December of that year.
For four or five years he served the group of churches in Hanover County which had formerly been cared for by Samuel Davies, and also did a notable work among the slaves. He was a pioneer by nature and was always seeking work of the pioneer type. In 1769 he moved from Hanover to Bedford County, near the Peaks of Otter, and did mission work in that vicinity for a dozen or more years.
In 1783 he moved to Kentucky, settled in Mercer County, and preached at Danville, Cane Run, Forks of Dick's River, and other points. Fifteen years later he went to Green County in southern Kentucky, where he continued his missionary labors. Later on he visited many parts of Kentucky and Ohio, whereever he went organizing churches. He was always interested in education.
Before he left Virginia he helped to found Hampden-Sydney College. Soon after he reached Kentucky he began to establish schools, and he was one of the promoters of Transylvania University at Lexington, Kentucky.
Rice was elected a member of the convention (1792) which framed the constitution of Kentucky, and took an active part in its proceedings. He endeavored to write an article into the constitution providing for the gradual emancipation of slaves, but it was defeated.
He died at the ripe age of eighty-two.
Achievements
Membership
"Holding men in Slavery is the National vice of Virginia; and while a part of that State we were partakers of the guilt. As a separate State we are just now come to birth, and it depends upon our free choice whether we shall be born in this sin or innocent of it".
Personality
In person Rice is said to have been tall and slender. He was quiet in his manner and by some of his contemporaries considered austere.
Connections
He had married Mary Blair, daughter of Rev. Samuel Blair of Pennsylvania, by whom he had six sons and five daughters.