It is a principle of our nature that feelings once excited turn readily from the object by which they are excited to some other object which may for the time being take possession of the mind.

He was baptized as an infant by Bishop Francis Asbury. In 1859 Bishop Simpson changed his residence from Pittsburgh to Evanston Illinois where he accepted the position of President of the Garrett Biblical Institute (now Garrett–Evangelical Theological Seminary). Matthew's uncle also was Matthew Simpson who also emigrated from Ireland to America in 1793.

For the Brisbane Bears player see Matthew Simpson (footballer).