William Henry Steele Demarest (May 12, 1863 – June 23, 1956) was an American Dutch Reformed

minister Minister may refer to: * Minister (Christianity), a Christian cleric ** Minister (Catholic Church) * Minister (government), a member of government who heads a ministry (government department) ** Minister without portfolio, a member of government w ...

and the eleventh President of Rutgers College (now Rutgers University) serving from 1906 to 1924.

Biography

May 12, 1863 in Hudson, New York. Having been educated at the

Rutgers Grammar School Rutgers University (; RU), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a public land-grant research university consisting of four campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's College, and w ...

(now the

Rutgers Preparatory School Rutgers Preparatory School (also known as Rutgers Prep or RPS) is a private, coeducational, college preparatory day school established in 1766. The school educates students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, located on a campus along t ...

), Demarest graduated with high honors from Rutgers College with a baccalaureate degree in 1883. From 1883 to 1886, Demarest taught at the

. In 1888 he graduated from the New Brunswick Theological Seminary, and that same year was ordained to the ministry of the Dutch Reformed Church, where he served until 1901 at which time he returned to the Seminary, and was appointed Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Government to replace retiring professor

Samuel Merrill Woodbridge The Reverend Samuel Merrill Woodbridge, D.D., LL.D. (April 5, 1819 – June 23, 1905) was an American clergyman, theologian, author, and college professor. A graduate of New York University and the New Brunswick Theological Seminary, Woodbr ...

(1819–1905). In 1905, Demarest was named as acting President of the College, and was elected by the Trustees to succeed Austin Scott as President in early 1906. During his tenure, the New Jersey College for Women (now Douglass College) was established in 1918, through private donors and increased appropriation from the State of New Jersey, new facilities were constructed for instruction in Engineering,

Chemistry Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...

Entomology Entomology () is the science, scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. In the past the term "insect" was less specific, and historically the definition of entomology would also include the study of animals in other arthropod groups, such ...

, and Ceramics and dormitories were built to accommodate the increased enrollment. Following his resignation as President in 1924, Demarest served for ten years as president of the New Brunswick Theological Seminary and remained active in the affairs of the University. In 1924, he published ''History of Rutgers College''. He died on June 23, 1956 in

New Brunswick, New Jersey New Brunswick is a city (New Jersey), city in and the county seat, seat of government of Middlesex County, New Jersey, Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.Demarest Hall Demarest may refer to: Places ;United States * Demarest, New Jersey, borough in Bergen County ** Demarest (Erie Railroad station), on the National Register of Historic Places * Demarest Hall, dormitory at Rutgers College People * Arthur Demarest ...

at Rutgers University is named in his honor. * Demarest House was his home from 1906 until 1956.

References

External links

Rutgers biography
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Demarest, William H. S. 1863 births 1956 deaths Rutgers Preparatory School alumni Rutgers University alumni New Brunswick Theological Seminary alumni Presidents of Rutgers University Burials at Elmwood Cemetery (North Brunswick, New Jersey)