A Unitarian minister and writer, from 1860 to 1881 he was Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and preacher to Harvard University, as well as twice serving as acting president.

A bronze table in the Memorial Church declares that for 33 years, Andrew Preston Peabody “moved among the teachers and students of Harvard College, and wist not that his face shone.”

His 1875 address—delivered on the Cambridge Common in celebration of George Washington’s acceptance of command of the Continental Army—stated:

Cambridge was the first capital of the infant republic. By adopting the army, and choosing its head, the colonies performed their first act, not of alliance, but of organic unity, and became a nation unawares.

Year after year, on the commencement platform in the old parish-church, had successive ranks of earnest young men rehearsed to greedy ears the dream of liberty which they pledged faith and life to realize.

Washington remained in the Vassall House, now Mr. Longfellow’s, until the following April. He generally attended worship at the church of the First Parish.