Jeremy Belknap, D. D., an American clergyman and historian, born in Boston, June 4, 1744, died there, June 20,1798. He graduated at Harvard college in 1762, and, after teaching school four years, was ordained as pastor of the church in Dover, N. H., in 1767, where he passed 20 years. In 1787 he took the charge of the Federal street church in Boston, which he held till his death. From the age of 15 he kept notes and abstracts of his reading, and a series of interleaved and annotated almanacs, of which curious specimens are preserved. His "History of New Hampshire" was commenced soon after his residence at Dover. The 1st volume appeared at Philadelphia in 1784, the 2d at Boston in 1791, and the 3d in the following year. Not paying the expenses of publication, the legislature of New Hampshire granted him £50 in its aid. In 1790 he projected the Massachusetts historical society, and in 1792 he published, in successive numbers of the "Columbian Magazine," "The Foresters," a historical apologue. The next year he published a life of Watts; in 1794 a series of American biographies; and in 1795 a "Collection of Psalms and Hymns," for a long time in use in many of the New England churches, several of which were written by himself.

He was also the author of many fugitive pieces, contributions to magazines, sermons, etc. A life of Dr. Belknap, by his granddaughter, with selections from his correspondence, was published in New York in 1847.