Wait, Samuel, 1789-1867

Samuel Wait (1789-1867) was a Baptist minister and first President of Wake Forest Institute (later Wake Forest University). Wait was born and raised in New England and married Sarah (Sally) Merriam (1794-1871)in 1818.WAit traveled to North carolina to raise funds for Columbian College, and in 1827 was induced to remain in the state permanently, as minister first of New Bern Baptist Church, then Abbott's Creek Baptist Church. In 1834 Wait was appointed head of the newly formed Wake Forest Manual Labor Institute, a position he held for 10 years.

Samuel Wait was a Baptist minister and first President of Wake Forest Institute (later Wake Forest University). Wait was born and raised in New England and married Sarah (Sally) Merriam in 1818. Wait traveled to North Carolina to raise funds for Columbian College, and in 1827 was induced to remain in the state permanently, as minister first of New Bern Baptist Church, then Abbott's Creek Baptist Church. In 1834, Wait was appointed head of the newly formed Wake Forest Manual Labor Institute, a position he held for 10 years.