author
Benj. N. (Benjamin Nicholas) Martin
1816–1883
A 19th-century clergyman, teacher, and literary anthologist, he moved comfortably between theology, philosophy, and the classroom. His books reflect a lifelong interest in bringing big ideas and important writing within reach of students and general readers.
1 Audiobook
Choice Specimens of American Literature, and Literary Reader Being Selections from the Chief American Writers
by Benj. N. (Benjamin Nicholas) Martin
About the author
Born in Mount Holly, New Jersey, in 1816, Benjamin Nicholas Martin studied at Yale College, graduating in 1837. Contemporary and bibliographic sources identify him as a minister as well as an educator, and later references connect him with the University of the State of New York as a professor of philosophy.
Martin wrote and edited works that sit at the crossroads of religion, science, education, and literature. Among the books linked to him are Science and the Scriptures, The Natural Theology of the Doctrine of the Forces, The Classics in Education, and Choice Specimens of American Literature, and Literary Reader, a broad anthology designed to introduce readers to major American writers.
He died in 1883. While detailed biographical material is limited in the sources readily available online, the record that does survive suggests a thoughtful 19th-century man of letters whose work was shaped by both scholarly training and a strong interest in public instruction.