Harvard College is a famous University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was founded by the general court at Boston on the 28th October 1636, and chartered in 1650 by the General Court. Harvard derived its name from John Harvard, the clergyman formerly of Emmanuel College, Cambridge who bequeathed to it his library and a sum of money in 1638.
Harvard is the oldest college in the United States. Its first class, consisting of nine, was graduated in 1642. It received State aid, in addition to private benefactions, until 1814, but its official connection with the commonwealth continued until 1865, after which time the control of the university was vested in its alumni. Besides its academic department it has schools of theology, law, medicine, science and dental surgery, founded respectively in 1819, 1817, 1782, 1848 and 1868. Research Harvard College
Abbott Lawrence was an American politician. He was born in 1792 and died in 1855. He represented Massachusetts in the US Congress as a Whig from 1835 to 1837. He was Minister to Great Britain from 1847 to 1852. He founded the Lawrence Scientific School at Harvard College. Research Abbott Lawrence
Alexander Hill Everett was an American statesman. He was born in 1792 at Boston and died in 1847. After studying at Harvard, in 1809 he accompanied John Quincy Adams to St Petersburg as secretary of legation. He was charge d'affaires to the Netherlands from 1818 until 1824, was Minister to Spain from 1825 until 1829, and was a prolific writer upon political, economic and literary subjects. Research Alexander Everett
Alex Agassiz was a Swiss-born American marine zoologist with a particular interest in coral formations. He was born in 1835 at Neuchatel and died in 1910. Emigrating with his family to America in 1849 he studied at Harvard and in 1874 became curator at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, holding the post until 1897. Research Alex Agassiz
Andrew P Peabody was an American journalist, philosopher and teacher. He was born in 1811 and died in 1893. He was editor of the North American Review from 1854 to 1863, and professor of Christian morals at Harvard from 1860 to 1881. He won esteem as a profound thinker, facilewriter and lovable teacher. Research Andrew Peabody
Asa Gray was an American botanist. He was born in 1810 at New York and died in 1888. He was appointed Fisher professor of natural history in Harvard University in 1842, and held the chair until 1873, when he retired from its more active duties. His works include Elements of Botany (published in 1836), A Manual of Botany (1848), and other botanical textbooks; also portions of works on the flora of North America and the Genera Boreali-Americana, a Free Examination of Darwin's Treatise (1861), a volume entitled Darwiniana (1876), etc. Research Asa Gray
Benjamin Franklin was an American statesman and scientist. He was born in 1706 at Boston and died in 1790. The son of a tallow-chandler and soap-boiler, he was apprenticed to his elder brother, a printer, and developed an eager fondness for books and writing.
At seventeen he ran away to Philadelphia, where, in 1729, he established a newspaper. His public spirit, his talents as a writer and the fame of his scientific discoveries advanced him in prominence. In 1753 he was appointed deputy postmaster-general of the British colonies. In 1754, being a member of the Albany Convention, he proposed an important plan for colonial union.. From 1757 to 1763, and again from 1764 to the American War of Independence, he was agent of Pennsylvania in England; part of the time, also, for Massachusetts, New Jersey and Georgia.
In 1773, acting as agent for the political leaders in Massachusetts, he sent over to them the correspondence of Hutchinson, Oliver and other Massachusetts loyalists with a confidant of the British Ministry. The publication of the letters aroused great excitement in the colonies, and brought down upon Benjamin Franklin violent abuse on the part of the ministerialists, and dismissal from his office of postmaster-general.
In 1775 seeing that reconciliation was impossible, he returned to Pennsylvania, and was at once chosen a delegate to the Continental Congress. In 1776 he was one of the committee of five who drew up the Declaration of Independence,, and in the autumn was sent to join Arthur Lee and Silas Deane in the mission to France. In Paris he was received with great enthusiasm. He succeeded in obtaining from the French Government not only the treaty of 1778, but also large sums of money supplied in secret before that government declared war on England and openly afterward. Benjamin Franklin had a leading part in the beginnings of negotiation with Great Britain for peace and independence. In respect to the actual manner in which the treaty was concluded, he was overruled by John Adams and Jay, who deemed it best, contrary to the instructions of Congress, to negotiate apart from France and make separate terms. Benjamin Franklin played an important part in the arrangements of the treaty, especially those respecting the loyalists. After the Treaty of Versailles had thus been signed on September the 3rd, 1783, Benjamin Franklin negotiated a favourable treaty with Prussia.
In 1785 Benjamin Franklin returned to America, and was chosen president of Pennsylvania, and again in 1786 and 1787. He was an influential member of the Convention of 1787, and died at Philadelphia a few years later. Beside his eminence as a statesman and as a philosopher and scientific discoverer, Benjamin Franklin was noted as a shrewd and practical philanthropist, and was one of the best of English writers. He was renowned for his identification of lightning with electricity, but also wrote widely criticising corruption, philosophising and even describing Harvard College as a place where money was valued above intelligence. Research Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Peirce was an American mathematician. He was born in 1809 and died in 1880. He won distinction for his original and extensive work in pure and in applied mathematics. He was a professor at Harvard from 1833 to 1867. He published many mathematical works. Research Benjamin Peirce
Caleb Cushing was an American politician. He was born in 1800 and died in 1879. Educated at Harvard he rose to eminence at the Massachusetts bar. He was a Representative from Massachusetts in Congress in 1835 until 1843, having been a Whig and, from Tyler's time, a Democrat. He was a US Commissioner to China, a brigadier-general during the Mexican War, and an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Massachusetts. From 1853until 1857 he was a member of Pierce's Cabinet as Attorney-General. In 1860 he presided over the democratic National Convention which met at Charleston. His high reputation as a lawyer led to his appointment as US counsel before the Geneva Tribunal of 1872, and to his nomination by Grant as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, though he failed in confirmation of the office and was sent as US minister to Spain in 1874 where he remained until 1877. Research Caleb Cushing
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