Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Low, Seth 1850-

Educator; born in Brooklyn, N. Y., Jan. 18, 1850; graduated with high honors at Columbia College in 1870; entered his father's mercantile house, and in 1875 became a member of the

Seth low

firm, and shortly after was elected a member of the Chamber of Commerce. Later he established the Brooklyn Bureau of Charities. In 1881 and 1883 he was elected mayor of Brooklyn. Mr. Low was chosen president of Columbia College in 1890. In 1899 President McKinley appointed him one of the United States delegates to the Universal Peace Conference called by the Czar of Russia and held at The Hague, Netherlands, that year. Since his accession to the presidency of Columbia University he has been exceedingly liberal in promoting its welfare. In 1895 he offered to erect a grand university library at his own expense. This building by the time of its completion had cost him about $1,200,000. In honor of his munificence, the trustees established twelve scholarships for Brooklyn boys and twelve in Barnard College for Brooklyn girls. In 1897 Mr. Low was the candidate of the Citizens' Union for mayor of New York City, but was defeated. He was again a candidate in 1901 on an Anti-Tammany ticket.