Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) became the pastor of the church at Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1724. His powerful preaching launched the Great Awakening in 1734-35, and a geographically more extensive revival in 1740-41. He became a firm friend of George Whitefield, then evangelizing in America, who continued to promote the revival. Edwards was called to the presidency of the then nascent Princeton College shortly before his death.