What is james henry thornwell?

James Henry Thornwell (1812-1862) was an American Presbyterian theologian and academic. He was born in South Carolina and later attended South Carolina College, where he graduated as valedictorian of his class. After completing his theological studies, he became a minister in the Presbyterian Church and served several churches in North Carolina and South Carolina.

In addition to his pastoral work, Thornwell was a prominent theologian and academic. He taught at several institutions, including South Carolina College and Columbia Theological Seminary. He was a strong advocate for the role of religion in public life and a defender of slavery, which was a contentious issue at the time.

Thornwell is best known for his theological writings, which include "The Collected Writings of James Henley Thornwell" and "Lectures on the Doctrines of Christianity". His work had a significant influence on the Presbyterian Church and American Christianity as a whole.

Thornwell served as the president of South Carolina College from 1851-1855 and was a member of the Confederate States of America's provisional congress. He died in 1862 at the age of 50 during the Civil War.