author
W. (William) McDonald
1820–1901
A Methodist minister, evangelist, and hymn writer, he helped shape 19th-century American holiness publishing through sermons, biographies, and devotional works. His books and hymns were written to encourage ordinary readers in practical Christian faith.
1 Audiobook
The Young People's Wesley
by W. (William) McDonald
About the author
Born in Belmont, Maine, on March 1, 1820, he became a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1839 and joined the Maine Conference in 1843. Later he served in Wisconsin and New England, building a reputation as a preacher, writer, and advocate of the holiness movement.
He wrote extensively, including hymn collections, devotional works, and biographies such as The Life of Rev. John S. Inskip and The Young People's Wesley. For a number of years he also edited the Advocate of Christian Holiness, which helped spread his ideas to a wider audience.
He died on September 11, 1901. Remembered both as a minister and a prolific religious author, his work reflects the energetic revival culture of 19th-century American Methodism.