Samuel McChord Crothers (1857–1927) was a prominent American Unitarian minister and a widely read essayist. Born in Oswego, Illinois, Crothers pursued an extensive academic path at a young age. He graduated from Wittenberg College in 1873 and subsequently earned a degree from the College of New Jersey, which later became Princeton University, in 1874. He completed his formal theological training at the Union Theological Seminary, receiving his divinity degree in 1877.
Following his graduation, Crothers initially entered the ministry as a Presbyterian minister. However, his theological views shifted, leading him to resign from his Presbyterian post in 1881. The following year, he converted to Unitarianism, a move that defined the remainder of his ministerial career. He eventually became the minister for The First Parish in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a position he held while establishing himself as a popular literary figure.
Alongside his religious duties, Crothers gained a significant reputation as an essayist, known for his engaging and thoughtful prose. He continued his dual career as a writer and clergyman in Massachusetts until his sudden death at his home in Cambridge in November 1927.
