Eliphalet Pearson (June 11, 1752 – September 12, 1826) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

educator, the first

Preceptor A preceptor (from Latin, "''praecepto''") is a teacher responsible for upholding a ''precept'', meaning a certain law or tradition. Buddhist monastic orders Senior Buddhist monks can become the preceptors for newly ordained monks. In the Buddhi ...

Phillips Academy Phillips Academy (also known as PA, Phillips Academy Andover, or simply Andover) is a Private school, private, Mixed-sex education, co-educational college-preparatory school for Boarding school, boarding and Day school, day students located in ...

(1778–86), and the acting president of

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

(1804–06). He also co-founded the

American Education Society American Society for the Education of Pious Youth for the Gospel Ministry was organized in 1815 for the purpose of raising funds for college expenses of young men aiming to become Protestant clergymen. It was renamed American Education Society (AE ...

. 1911-1913 Pearson graduated from Harvard in 1773, where he was a member of the

Hasty Pudding Hasty pudding is a pudding or porridge of grains cooked in milk or water. In the United States, it often refers specifically to a version made primarily with ground ("Indian") corn, and it is most known for being mentioned in the lyrics of "Yanke ...

, after having attended Dummer Charity School (now known as

The Governor's Academy The Governor's Academy (informally known as Governor's or Govs) is a co-educational, college-preparatory day and boarding school in Byfield, Massachusetts. Established in 1763 in memory of Massachusetts governor William Dummer, Governor's is ...

). He was elected a Fellow of the

American Academy of Arts and Sciences The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (The Academy) is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. It was founded in 1780 during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, and other ...

in 1781. Beginning in 1786, he was the second person to hold the Hancock Chair of Hebrew and Other Oriental Languages. He held the chair until 1806. After the death of

Joseph Willard Joseph Willard (December 29, 1738 – September 25, 1804) was an American Congregational clergyman and academic. He was president of Harvard from 1781 until 1804. Biography Willard was born December 29, 1738, in Biddeford, York County (at ...

in 1804, Pearson became the interim president of Harvard University. He resigned that post in 1806, when

Samuel Webber Samuel Webber (1759 – July 17, 1810) was an American Congregational clergyman, mathematician, academic, and the 13th president of Harvard University from 1806 until his death in 1810. Biography Webber was born in Byfield, Massachusetts, in 17 ...

became president.

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References

1752 births 1826 deaths Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences People from Newbury, Massachusetts Presidents of Harvard University Harvard College alumni Hasty Pudding alumni Heads of Phillips Academy Andover 18th-century American educators The Governor's Academy alumni {{US-academic-administrator-1750s-stub