Hart, Samuel

(June 4, 1845-Feb. 25, 1917). Secretary of the House of Bishops and dean of the Berkeley Divinity School. He was born in Saybrook, Connecticut. Hart received his B.A. from Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, in 1866, and his B.D. from the Berkeley Divinity School in 1869. He was ordained deacon on June 2, 1869, and priest on June 28, 1870. From 1870 until 1873, he was tutor at Trinity College. From 1873 until 1899, he was a professor at Trinity where he taught almost all the courses in the curriculum. In 1899 he became vice-dean and professor of doctrinal theology at Berkeley. From 1908 until his death he was the third dean of Berkeley. Hart became the third custodian of the Standard Book of Common Prayer in 1886, secretary of the House of Bishops on Oct. 24, 1892, and the fourth historiographer of the Episcopal Church on Oct. 17, 1898. He served in all three positions until his death. His major book was a History of the American Book of Common Prayer (1910). Hart died in Middletown, Connecticut.