MILLER, William (1795-1883):
American religious leader whose work led to the growth of
several MILLENARIAN GROUPS the most important being SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISM. After a
surprising CONVERSION from DEISM his study of the BIBLE led him to concentrate on
the prophetic books and eventually declare that CHRIST would return around 1843. When this
did not happen the date was rescheduled and further disappointments followed until his
death. Miller explained his failures in terms of human error and possible mistranslations
of the BIBLE.