Eben S. Stearns (1819–1887) was an American educator. He served as the President of
Framingham State University
Framingham State University (Framingham State or FSU) is a public university in Framingham, Massachusetts. It offers undergraduate programs as well as Graduate school, graduate programs, including MBA, MEd, and Master of Science, MS.
History
As ...
from 1849 to 1855, and as the Chancellor of the
University of Nashville
University of Nashville was a private university in Nashville, Tennessee. It was established in 1806 as Cumberland College. It existed as a distinct entity until 1909; operating at various times a medical school, a four-year military college, a ...
and President
Peabody Normal School
The Peabody Education Fund was established by George Peabody in 1867, after the American Civil War, for the purpose of promoting "intellectual, moral, and industrial education in the most destitute portion of the Southern States" except schools fo ...
(which later merged with
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University (informally Vandy or VU) is a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1873, it was named in honor of shipping and rail magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided the school its initial $1-million ...
) from 1875 to 1887.
Early life
Eben Sperry Stearns was born on December 23, 1819, in
Bedford, Massachusetts
Bedford is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population of Bedford was 14,383 at the time of the 2020 United States Census.
History
''The following compilation comes from Ellen Abrams (1999) based on information ...
.
His father was a
Congregational
Congregational churches (also Congregationalist churches or Congregationalism) are Protestant churches in the Calvinist tradition practising congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its ...
minister.
Stearns enrolled at
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...
in 1841, where he received a master of arts degree in 1845.
He received a Doctor of Divinity and a Doctor of Laws from other universities.
Career
Stearns began his career as a teacher in an all girls' seminary in
Ipswich, Massachusetts
Ipswich is a coastal town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,785 at the 2020 census. Home to Willowdale State Forest and Sandy Point State Reservation, Ipswich includes the southern part of Plum Island. A reside ...
.
He went on to teach in
West Newton,
Newburyport, Massachusetts
Newburyport is a coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, northeast of Boston. The population was 18,289 at the 2020 census. A historic seaport with vibrant tourism industry, Newburyport includes part of Plum Island. The mo ...
, and
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in the U.S. state of Maine and the seat of Cumberland County. Portland's population was 68,408 in April 2020. The Greater Portland metropolitan area is home to over half a million people, the 104th-largest metropol ...
.
Stearns served as the President of
Framingham State University
Framingham State University (Framingham State or FSU) is a public university in Framingham, Massachusetts. It offers undergraduate programs as well as Graduate school, graduate programs, including MBA, MEd, and Master of Science, MS.
History
As ...
from 1849 to 1855.
Stearns served as the Chancellor of the
University of Nashville
University of Nashville was a private university in Nashville, Tennessee. It was established in 1806 as Cumberland College. It existed as a distinct entity until 1909; operating at various times a medical school, a four-year military college, a ...
and President of the Peabody Normal School from 1875 to 1887.
Under his leadership, the school attendance grew from 13 to 179 students.
In 1885, he authored ''Historical Sketch of the Normal College, at Nashville, Tennessee''.
Personal life
Stearns was married, and he had children.
Death and legacy
Stearns died on April 11, 1887, in Nashville, Tennessee.
[ ] His funeral was held by an Episcopal pastor in Nashville,
[ ] and he was buried in Bedford, Massachusetts.
[ ]
Meanwhile, he was replaced as Chancellor of the University of Nashville and President of the Peabody Normal School by
William H. Payne.
[ ] A year after his death, in 1888, his portrait by Geo Drury was donated to the Peabody Normal College.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stearns, Eben S.
People from Bedford, Massachusetts
People from Nashville, Tennessee
Harvard University alumni
Framingham State University faculty
Heads of universities and colleges in the United States
1819 births
1887 deaths