Jesse Ames Spencer, an American clergyman, born at Hyde Park, Dutchess co., N. Y., June 17, 1816. He graduated at Columbia college in 1837 (from which he received the degree of S. T. D. in 1852), studied theology in the general seminary of the Episcopal church, became rector of St. James's church, Goshen, N. Y., in 1840, and afterward engaged in teaching, and travelled in Europe and the East. In 1849 he was appointed professor of Latin and oriental languages in Burlington college, N. J., and from 1851 to 1857 was editor and secretary of the Episcopal Sunday school union and church book society. In 1863-5 he was rector of St. Paul's church, Flatbush, L. I., and in 1869 became professor of Greek in the college of the city of New York. He has published "Discourses" (1843); "The New Testament in Greek, with Notes on the Historical Books " (1847); "Cassar's Commentaries," with notes, lexicon, etc. (1848); "Egypt and the Holy Land " (1849); " History of the United. States " (4 vols. 8vo, 1856-69); "Greek Praxis" (1870); "The Young Ruler and other Discourses" (1871); and "A Course of English Reading" (1873). He has also edited Archbishop Trench's poems (1856), and Xenophon's Anabasis from the manuscripts of Prof. A. Crosby (1875).