Theophilus Capen Abbot (April 29, 1826 – November 7, 1892) was an American educator and the third

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

of the State Agricultural College (now Michigan State University), serving from 1863 until 1885.

Early life

He was born in

Vassalboro, Maine Vassalboro (originally Vassalborough) is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 4,520 at the 2020 census. Vassalboro includes the villages of Riverside, Getchell's Corner, North Vassalboro, and East Vassalboro, home t ...

, and spent his early life in Augusta, Maine. At the age of fifteen he entered

Colby University Colby College is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Waterville, Maine. It was founded in 1813 as the Maine Literary and Theological Institution, then renamed Waterville College after the ...

(now Colby College) in Waterville, Maine. He graduated in 1845 with his

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

, and received his A.M. degree from Colby four years later.

Career

After receiving his

master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

, Abbot taught in Vermont, at Bangor Theological Seminary and

in Maine, and in

Berrien Springs, Michigan Berrien Springs is a village in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,800 at the time of the 2010 census. The village is located within Oronoko Charter Township. History Berrien Springs, like Berrien County, is na ...

. In 1857, he became the first principal of the Union School (later Ann Arbor High School), the first secondary school to serve the entire city of Ann Arbor, Michigan. In 1858, Abbot accepted the Professorship of English literature at the newly formed State Agricultural College (later Michigan Agricultural College and now Michigan State University) in

East Lansing, Michigan East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Most of the city lies within Ingham County with a smaller portion extending north into Clinton County. At the 2020 Census the population was 47,741. Located directly east of the state capital ...

. He also served as the treasurer of the college in 1860, and as secretary '' pro tempore'' of the State Board of Agriculture in 1861 and 1862. In December 1862, he was unanimously selected as the third president of the college, a position he held for 22 years (1862-1885) while still continuing to teach. Ill health forced him to step down as president in 1885, and then later from his professorship in 1889. In 1890, he received an honorary LL.D. degree in 1890 from the

University of Michigan , mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth" , former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821) , budget = $10.3 billion (2021) , endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...

. His health continued to deteriorate after his retirement and he died on November 7, 1892.

Personal life

On July 5, 1860, Abbot married Sarah Merrylees, a teacher at the Union School in Ann Arbor, and they had two children: Mary Mouat (b. January 10, 1863; d. March 20, 1903) and Joseph Rodney (b. March 30, 1865).

Legacy

* Abbot Hall (attached to Mason Hall) in Michigan State University's North Neighborhood. * Abbot Road in

. * Abbot Elementary School, of

Ann Arbor Public Schools Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) serves the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan and parts of eight surrounding townships covering . The district operates 20 elementary schools, 2 K-8 schools, 6 middle schools, 4 comprehensive high schools, 1 alternati ...

References

External links

Biographical Information
(Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections) *
Reports of the Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of Michigan
Lansing, MI: Hosmer & Kerr, 1858, pp. 437–443 1826 births 1892 deaths Presidents of Michigan State University Colby College alumni Colby College faculty University of Michigan Law School alumni People from Vassalboro, Maine People from Augusta, Maine {{US-academic-administrator-stub