David Rice (Presbyterian minister)

David Rice (December 7, 1733 – May 25, 1816) was a Presbyterian minister and educator, considered the "Father of Presbyterianism in Kentucky."

Born in Hanover County, Virginia, Rice received his theological training under Samuel Davies, the fourth president of Princeton University (then the College of New Jersey). He was licensed to preach by the Hanover Presbytery in 1762.

Rice served congregations in Virginia before answering a call to preach in the western settlements of Kentucky in 1783. He travelled with his family over the Wilderness Road to Mercer County, Kentucky, where he helped organize the first three Presbyterian churches in the state: Cane Run, Concord, and Pisgah. He also played a significant role in establishing Transylvania Seminary (later Transylvania University), the first institution of higher learning west of the Allegheny Mountains, serving as its first president.

A staunch advocate for education, Rice believed that an educated populace was essential for a thriving republic. He was also a vocal opponent of slavery, advocating for gradual emancipation within the Presbyterian Church and speaking out against the institution in public forums. His views on slavery, considered radical for the time and place, often put him at odds with members of his congregations.

David Rice's influence extended beyond the religious sphere. He was a key figure in the early political and social development of Kentucky, advocating for principles of religious liberty and social justice. He is remembered as a pioneering figure who laid the foundation for both the Presbyterian Church and education in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He is buried in the Pisgah Presbyterian Church cemetery near Versailles, Kentucky.