Samuel Irenaeus Prime was born at Ballston, New York in 1812 and studied at William’s College and Princeton Theological Seminary. He graduated from William’s College in 1829, followed by Princeton in 1833, before becoming a minister in the Presbyterian Church in 1834. The ill-health which accompanied his pastoral labours led him to concentrate upon a written ministry and from 1840 until his death in 1885 he was the Editor of the influential New York Observer.
The Power of Prayer: The New York Revival of 1858 (reprinted by the Trust) was his most popular book.