Jonathan Williams (priest)

Jonathan Williams (1750 – 1815) was an American clergyman and author. He served as the first chaplain of the United States Military Academy at West Point from 1801 to 1815.

Williams was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard College in 1768 and was ordained as a Congregational minister. He initially served as pastor of the First Parish Church in Kennebunk, Maine (then part of Massachusetts), from 1779 to 1786. He was later dismissed due to theological differences with the congregation, specifically concerning his increasingly Unitarian views.

Following his dismissal, Williams moved to Newburyport, Massachusetts, where he engaged in various business activities, including trading. He also dedicated time to scholarly pursuits.

In 1801, upon the recommendation of President Thomas Jefferson, he was appointed as the first chaplain of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He served in this role until his death in 1815. While serving as chaplain, Williams also continued to pursue intellectual interests and wrote on religious and scientific topics. He published several sermons and religious tracts. His writings often reflected his Unitarian leanings and his advocacy for rational Christianity. He also contributed to the intellectual life of West Point, providing moral and spiritual guidance to the cadets.