George Dana Boardman, D. D., son of the Rev. George Dana Boardman, and stepson of Rev. Adoniram Judson, was born in Tavoy, Burmah, Aug. 18, 1828. At six years of age he embarked for America, and journeyed the entire distance alone. During the voyage, which lasted nine months, he was subjected to severe hardship and ill treatment, and was nearly captured by Malay pirates when in a small boat off Singapore. But the young and enfeebled life was graciously spared for a career of remarkable vigor and usefulness; he was baptized, while yet a lad, by Dr. William Lamson, at Thomaston, Maine; entered Brown University in 1846; became disheartened during his Sophomore year, and spent two years in Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri, reading law and engaging in mercantile pursuits. He subsequently re-entered Brown University, and graduated in 1852; graduated from Newton Theological Institution in 1855. In consequence of pulmonary troubles he settled at Barnwell Court-House, S. C., where he was ordained, December, 1855. After a five months' pastorate he returned to the North, and became pastor of the Second church at Rochester, N. Y., where he remained until May, 1864. He then entered upon the pastorate of the First church at Philadelphia.

To his wife he lovingly dedicated one of his choicest publications, speaking of her as one "whose poetic insight into the meaning of nature has been my inspiration."

During his pastorate in Philadelphia he has traveled extensively in Europe, Asia, and Africa; and in his journeys abroad, as well as in his studies at home, he has, with careful intensity, sought to understand the truths of divine revelation. With a soul full of devout inquiry, and with an intellectual vigor that sometimes threatened the prostration of his physical powers, he has diligently endeavored to know and preach the gospel of Christ; and those who attend upon his ministry are enriched by his devout and scholarly expositions. At the Wednesday evening services of the church he has delivered 184 lectures on the Life of our Lord, 55 on the Acts of the Apostles, 14 on the Epistles to the Thessalonians, 16 on the Epistle to the Galatians, 39 on the Epistles to the Corinthians, 39 on the Epistle to the Romans, 11 on the Epistle to the Ephesians, 8 on the Epistle to the Colossians, 12 on the Epistle to the Philippians, 14 on the Epistles to Timothy, 3 on the Epistles to Titus, and 1 on the Epistle to Philemon, making 396 weekly expository lectures. These are to be continued through the entire New Testament. He has also published numerous sermons, pamphlets, and review articles, etc.

During 1878 he delivered 14 lectures on "The Creative Week" to immense audiences gathered at mid-day on successive Tuesdays in the hall of the Young Men's Christian Association. These lectures have since been published in book-form. He [p. 109] has also published "Studies in the Model Prayer" and "Epiphanies of the Risen Lord." His varied and cultured abilities have received repeated and well-merited recognition. The missionary and educational boards of the denomination have been honored by his membership; and at the Saratoga meetings in 1880 he was unanimously chosen president of the American Baptist Missionary Union. He is also a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania and a member of the American Philosophical Society. Such honors justly belong to one who is widely known and esteemed as a courteous and scholarly Christian gentleman. accessed 2019-Oct 25 from http://baptisthistoryhomepage.com/boardmans.george.d.the.html