Henry Cowles

Born in 1803, Henry Cowles was an American theologian, teacher, and religious writer closely tied to Oberlin College and Oberlin Theological Seminary. Records for his works and archival material identify him as a major biblical scholar of his day, and sources connected with Oberlin describe him as a founding member of the school’s theological department.

Cowles studied at Yale College and Yale Divinity School before building his career in ministry and education. At Oberlin he taught subjects including ecclesiastical history, pastoral theology, and the literature of the Old Testament, and he also served as an editor of the Oberlin Evangelist. He was active in the strongly reformist culture of antebellum Oberlin, and Oberlin archival material connects him with the school’s antislavery life.

He is best remembered today for his many Bible commentaries, which were written in a clear, practical style and aimed at helping both ministers and general readers. Henry Cowles died in 1881.