Educator; born in
Sheffield, Mass., May 5, 1809; was graduated at Yale College in 1828; president of the University of Mississippi in 1856-58, and chancellor in 1858-61.
In 1861, on account of the
Civil War, he resigned his offices in the university.
He was president of Columbia
College, New York City, in 1864-88.
At various times he held responsible appointments under the United States government, and was a member of many scientific and literary societies.
He was a strong advocate of the higher education of women, and was instrumental in founding the women's “Annex” to Columbia College, which afterwards was given his name, and in 1900 was made a part of Columbia University.
Among his works are
Letters on College government;
Report on collegiate education;
Art culture;
History of the American coast survey;
University education;
Undulatory
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284]
Theory of light;
Machinery and processes of the industrial Arts, and apparatus of the exact Sciences;
Metric system of weights and measures.
He died in New York, April 27, 1889.
