Facts And Dates In The Lives Of Distinguished Men

( Originally Published 1885 )

A FEW days ago I gave you some facts and dates in regard to the Presidents of the United States. Today we will consider similar facts and dates in regard to eighteen distinguished men, scholarly men, a majority of them presidents of colleges, others men in public or political life. By placing these facts upon the blackboard in a tabulated form, in the several rooms, your teachers will be able to draw important generalizations from them.

I have selected prominent men who have attained distinction within the last fifty years, in political and educational life.

1. Francis Wayland. Graduated from Union College at 17 ; studied medicine three years ; theology at Andover one year ; tutor Union College at 21; pastor First Baptist Church, Boston, at 25 ; professor mathematics and natural philosophy at Union College at 30 ; president Brown University at 31; died at 69.

2. Barnas Sears. Graduated from Brown University at 23 ; finished theological course at Newton at 27 ; pastor in Hartford 2 years ; professor theological institution at 29 ; went to Europe at 31; professor at Newton and president from 34 to 46 ; secretary Board of Education of Massachusetts at 46 ; president Brown University at 53 ; agent Peabody Educational Fund at 65 ; died at 78.

3. E. G. Robinson. Graduated at Brown University at 23, in the famous class of 1838 ; ordained at 27 ; professor in Theological Seminary at Covington, Ky., at 31; and at Rochester at 37 ; editor of Christian Review at 44 ; president Rochester Theological Seminary at 45 ; president of Brown University at 57.

4. Henry B. Anthony. Graduated at Brown University at 18 ; governor of Rhode Island at 34 ; United States senator from 44 to 69 ; died at 69.

5. Ambrose E. Burnside. Graduated from West Point at 23 ; major-general volunteers at 37 ; governor of Rhode Island at 42 ; United States senator from 49 to 56 ; died at 56.

6. Timothy Dwight. Graduated from Yale at 17 ; tutor at Yale at 19 ; licensed to preach at 25 ; then worked on farm four years ; Connecticut Legislature at 29 ; ordained minister at 31; president of Yale from 43 to 65 ; died at 65.

7, Jeremiah Day. Graduated from Yale at 22 ; tutor in Williams at 23 ; tutor in Yale at 25 ; professor in Yale at 26 ; president of Yale from 44 to 73 ; died at 94.

9. Cornelius C. Felton. Graduated from Harvard University at 20 ; tutor in Harvard University at 22 ; professor in Harvard University at 25 ; president of Harvard University at 53 ; died at 55.

10. Charles William Eliot. Graduated from Harvard University at 19 ; tutor in Harvard University at 20 ; assistant professor in Harvard University at 24 ; professor of chemistry in Massachusetts Institute of Technology at 31; president of Harvard University at 35.

11. Jared Sparks. Graduated from Harvard University at 26 ; minister at Baltimore from 30 to 34; editor North American Review from 34 to 41 ; professor in Harvard University from 50 to 60 ; president of Harvard University from 60 to 63; principal writings from 39 to 65 ; died at 77.

12. Edward Everett. Graduated from Harvard University at 17 ; tutor in Harvard University at 18 ; ordained at 20 ; appointed professor in Harvard University at 21; studied two years in Europe ; commenced duties as professor of Greek at 23; married at 28 ; member of Congress from 31 to 41; governor of Massachusetts from 42 to 46; minister to England from 47 to 52 ; president of Harvard University from 52 to 55 ; Secretary of State from 59 to 60 ; United States senator from 61 to 62 ; died at 71.

13. Daniel Webster. Graduated from Dartmouth College at 19 ; admitted to the bar at 23 ; member of Congress from 31 to 35 ; famous Dartmouth College case at 35 ; Plymouth anniversary discourse at 38 ; discourse at laying the corner-stone of the Bunker Hill Monument at 43 ; discourse at the completion of Bunker Hill Monument at 61; eulogy on Adams and Jefferson at 44 ; United States senator from 45 to 57 ; great speech in reply to Hayne at 48 ; Secretary of State at 58 ; 7th of March compromise speech at 68 ; died at 70.

14. Henry Clay. Admitted to the bar at 20 ; Kentucky Legislature at 25 ; United States senate at 29; in senate at different times sixteen years ; Secretary of State at 48 ; died at 75.

15. Rufus Choate. Graduated from Dartmouth College at 20 ; began the practice of law at 25 ; member of Congress at 33 ; United States senate from 42 to 46 ; died at 60.

16. Horace Greeley. Learned printer's trade from 15 to 19 ; went to New York at 20 ; began Morning Post, the first penny daily ever published, at 22 ; founded the New Yorker at 23 ; edited the Jeffersonian at 27 ; edited Log Cabin at 29 ; founded the New York Tribune at 30. He had no great success till he was 30 ; wrote " History of the American Conflict " from 53 to 55 ; candidate for President of the United States at 61; died at 61.

17. Louis Agassiz. Studied at Brienne, College of Lausanne, Zurich Medical School, 17 and 18 ; Universities of Heidelberg and Munich four years ; professor of natural history at Neufchatel at 25 ; published his great work on fossil fishes (5 vols.) from 23 to 33 ; professor zoology and geology of Lawrence Scientific School at Cambridge from 41 to 68 ; died at 68.

18. Horace Mann. Graduated from Brown University at 25 ; admitted to the bar at 27 ; Massachusetts house of representatives at 32 ; Massachusetts senate at 37 ; secretary Massachusetts Board of Education from 41 to 52 ; member of Congress at 52 ; president of Antioch College from 56 to 63 ; died at 63.

Of the foregoing 18 persons, 11 were presidents of colleges, 6 were in political life, 1 was a teacher.

Average age.

13 Graduated at college 20 yrs. 5 mos.
10 Admitted to bar, or ordained minister 25 " 5 "
4 Member of Congress 36 " 9 "
6 United States senate 45 "
7 Tutor of college 20 " 8 "
9 Professor in college 30 "
11 President of college 48 "
15 Died 69 "
Youngest President of college, Francis Wayland 31 "
Oldest President of college, Jared Sparks 60 "
Youngest died, C. C. Felton 55 "
Oldest died, Jeremiah Day 94 "