Diplomatist; born in
Homer, N. Y., Nov. 7, 1832; graduated at Yale College in 1853, and then studied abroad;
Professor of History at the
University of
Michigan in 1857-64; member of the New York Senate in 1864-67, and during his last term in that body introduced a bill incorporating Cornell University; became first president of that institution in 1867, and filled the post till 1885, when he resigned owing to ill-health.
He was a special
United States commissioner to the republic of
Santo Domingo in 1871, and commissioner to the
Paris exposition in 1878; was
United States minister to
Germany in 1879-81, and to
Russia in 1892-94.
He was a member of the Venezuela boundary
commission in 1896-97; was appointed ambassador to
Germany in 1897; and was chairman of the
American delegation to the peace conference at
The Hague in 1899.
He is an officer of the Legion of Honor of
France.
His publications
[
340]
include
A history of the warfare of Science with theology;
Lectures on mediaeval and modern history;
Studies in history, etc.