dˈeɪvɪd pˈɜːviəns sˈɜːvd ɪnðə kɛntˈʌki ænd oʊhˈaɪoʊ lˈɛdʒɪslətʃɚz, wˌɛɹ hiː kəntˈɪnjuːəli ˈædvəkˌeɪɾᵻd ˌæbəlˈɪʃənˌɪzəm, ænd wʌz ɐn ˈɜːli tɹˈʌstiː ʌv maɪˈæmi jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi, sˈɜːvɪŋ ˈɔfən æz ðə bˈoːɹdz pɹˈɛzɪdənt pɹˈoʊ tˈɛmpoːɹ.
David Purviance served in the Kentucky and Ohio legislatures, where he continually advocated abolitionism, and was an early trustee of Miami University, serving often as the board's president pro tempore.