William Miller, the greatest reformer of modern times, born in Massachusetts in 1782, was of poor but honorable parentage.  Having a thirst for knowledge, he acquired considerable education by his own exertions.  He served in the war of 1812, and was promoted to the rank of captain.  Until 1816 he favored infidelity; but a careful study of the Bible for the purpose of refuting Christianity convinced him of his error, and opened to the world the then unexplored fields of prophecy.  After much solicitation, he began his life work, the promulgation of the prophetic interpretations, especially in regard to the second advent, thus inseparably connecting himself with the great religious movement of 1844.  The message soon became so wide-spread that invitations from all the principal cities of the United States, as many as possible of which he answered; and a revival such as had never been known sprang up in every denomination, extending even to Europe.  Though disappointed in the time of the second advent, by a misapplication of prophecy, the majority of his views proved themselves to be correct, and introduced a new era in the never-ending work of reformation.  He devoted himself to the work which he had begun, both lecturing and writing until his peaceful death in 1849.

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