The oldest of nine children, William Cogswell was born June 5, 1787, in Atkinson, New Hampshire. From his earliest days, education surrounded him. Cogswell’s father gave the land for Atkinson Academy and was president of the board of trustees for many years, so his children attending the school in preparation for college was an expectation. After graduating, Cogswell attended Dartmouth College as a sophomore in 1808 and graduated in 1811. He received an AM from Harvard College and Brown University in 1816 and a DD from Williams College in 1833.
After graduating from Dartmouth, Cogswell taught at Atkinson Academy for a year before being invited to teach at Hampton Academy in Hampton, New Hampshire. While at Hampton, he studied theology and received a license to preach. Around this time, he also was advised by his physicians to take an extensive horseback journey for his health, which he did from 1813 to 1814, combining preaching (missionary work) with traveling. When he returned from his trip, he again began theological studies.
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