William Ellery Channing

William Ellery Channing was the foremost Unitarian preacher in the United States in the early nineteenth century and, along with Andrews Norton (1786–1853), one of Unitarianism's leading theologians. Channing was known for his articulate and impassioned sermons and public speeches, and as a prominent thinker in the liberal theology of the day. His religion and thought were among the chief influences on the New England Transcendentalists although he never countenanced their views, which he saw as extreme. His espousal of the developing philosophy and theology of Unitarianism was displayed especially in his "Baltimore Sermon" of May 5, 1819, given at the ordination of the theologian and educator Jared Sparks (1789–1866) as the first minister of the newly organized First Independent Church of Baltimore.

7 April 1780

Born on the same birth day (7 April): Allen Dulles • Billie Holiday • Chaturanan Mishra • Christian Fuchs • Gregg Jarrett • Hans van Hemert • Jamar Smith • Marjory Stoneman Douglas • Marju Lauristin • Martin Buß • Melissanthi • Neil Folberg • Ricky Watters • Roland Wilson (economist) • Rozalie Hirs • Walter Camp • Zaid Abdul-Aziz

Born in the same month (April 1780): Alexander Mitchell (engineer) • Charles Nodier • Edward Hicks