Prime, Samuel Irenaeus

Prime, Samuel Irenaeus, 1812–85, American Presbyterian clergyman and editor, b. Ballston Spa, N.Y. After holding pastorates at Ballston Spa and Matteawan, N.Y., he became assistant editor (1840–49) of the New-York Observer and later editor (1851–85). In this religious periodical, which he helped to make among the best of its kind, his "Irenaeus" articles (later published in two series as Irenaeus Letters, 1882, 1885) were a noted feature. From 1853, Prime conducted the "Editor's Drawer" in Harper's Magazine. Among his many books are The Power of Prayer (1859) and The Alhambra and the Kremlin (1873).