Basil Manly, D.D., was born in Chatham Co., N. C., Jan. 25, 1798; baptized Aug. 26, 1816, and licensed to preach in 1818. He graduated at the College of South Carolina, Dec. 3, 1821, with the first honor, when honors were given to such men as Preston, Pettigrew, and O'Neal. He was ordained in 1822. His first settled pastorate was at Edgefield Court-House, S. C., where the savor of his influence is yet felt. In March, 1826, he became pastor of the First Baptist church in Charleston. Seldom has a pastor been so loved by all, saint and sinner, old and young.

After about ten years of most successful labor in Charleston he became president of the State University of Alabama. He was the controlling spirit of the university, and it enjoyed unwonted prosperity for eighteen years under his administration.

In 1855 he returned to Charleston as pastor of the Wentmouth Street church. After four years of fruitful toil, he was again recalled to Alabama as State evangelist, a position for which he was peculiarly fitted, and his labors were abundantly blessed.

He spent the close of his life with his son, Rev. B. Manly, Jr., professor in the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, at Greenville, S. C. It was a great pleasure to him to see the institution in successful operation for which he had so long labored and prayed. Doubtless he could have adopted the language of Simeon: "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation."

Dr. Manly was one of the most distinguished ministers with which the Spirit of God ever blessed the Baptist denomination.
A Circular Letter by Rev. Basil Manly, D.D., 1849

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Basil Manly, Jr., D.D., LL.D.

Basil Manly, Jr., D.D., LL.D., son of the distinguished Dr. Basil Manly, of South Carolina, was born in Edgefield District, S. C., Dec. 19, 1825. After attending a preparatory school in Charleston, he became a student at the State University of Alabama, where he graduated in 1843. He then entered Newton Theological Seminary, where he remained for a time, and subsequently graduated at Princeton. He was licensed to preach at Tuscaloosa, Ala., in 1844, where he was ordained in 1848. He preached two years to several country churches in Alabama. In 1850 he accepted a call the First Baptist church in Richmond, Va. His health failing, in 1854 he superintended the erection of a building, costing $70,000, for the Richmond Female Institute, of which he became principal.

In 1859, when the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary was established at Greenville, S. C., he was elected one of its original professors. While the seminary was suspended during the war he preached to several churches in the neighborhood. Upon the re-opening of the seminary he resumed his professorship, in addition to which he collected money for the support of students, by means of which nearly a hundred young men were enabled to attend the institution. In 1871 he accepted the presidency of Georgetown College, which position he occupied until 1879, when he again accepted a professorship in the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, now located at Louisville, Ky. He is regarded as a man of extensive learning and critical scholarship, and is still more highly esteemed for his "meek and quiet spirit" and his constant devotion to the cause of Christ.

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[From The Baptist Encyclopedia, William Cathcart, editor, 1881; reprint, 1988, pp. 743-744. The title has been added. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]

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