Hosea II Ballou (born October 18, 1796 in Guilford, Vermont; died May 27, 1861 Medford, Massachusetts) was a Universalist minister and the first president of Tufts University from 1853-1861. He promoted the establishment of seminaries for religious training, something which was at that time opposed by a number of influential Universalists including his uncle Hosea. He edited or wrote for a number of Universalist publications. In 1843 he replaced Ellery Channing as a member of the Harvard Board of Overseers, and retained this position until 1858.

He was the son of Asahel Ballou and Martha Starr, a descendant of Comfort Starr, one of the original incorporators of Harvard College. Hosea Ballou II was also the grand-nephew of Hosea Ballou. He married Clarissa Hatch in 1820. They had seven children.

Writings

• The Ancient History of Universalism, from the Time of the Apostles to the Fifth General Council (1829)
• A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for the Use of Universalist Societies and Families (1837)
• "Review of the Denomination of Universalists in the United States," Universalist Expositor (1839)
• Counsel and Encouragement: Discourses on the Conduct of Life (1866)

Notes

Further reading

External links

• Tufts interactive timeline
• Hosea Ballou 2d. - Dictionary of Unitarian & Universalist Biography