Nathaniel J. Butler (May 22, 1853 – March 3, 1927) was the 12th President of

Colby College Colby College is a private liberal arts college in Waterville, Maine. It was founded in 1813 as the Maine Literary and Theological Institution, then renamed Waterville College after the city where it resides. The donations of Christian philanthr ...

Maine Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and north ...

, United States from 1896 to 1901.

Early life

Butler was born in

Eastport, Maine Eastport is a city and archipelago in Washington County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,288 at the 2020 census, making Eastport the least-populous city in Maine. The principal island is Moose Island, which is connected to the mainla ...

, to Rev. Nathaniel and Jeanne Emery Butler. He was educated at Camden High School and Coburn Classical Institute, and graduated from

in 1873.

Career

From 1873 to 1876 he was associate principal of the Ferry Hall Female College. From 1876 to 1879 was associate principal of a similar institution at Highland Hall College, Highland Park, Ill.

William Rainey Harper William Rainey Harper (July 24, 1856 – January 10, 1906) was an American academic leader, an accomplished semiticist, and Baptist clergyman. Harper helped to establish both the University of Chicago and Bradley University and served as the fi ...

called him to the professorship of English Literature at the

Old University of Chicago The Old University of Chicago was the legal name given in 1890 to the University of Chicago's first incorporation. The school, founded in 1856 by Baptist church leaders, was originally called the "University of Chicago" (or, interchangeably, "Ch ...

in 1884, where he was also a professor of Latin. From 1889 to 1892 he was a professor of English at The University of Illinois, but after 3 years he returned to the

as director of university extension. That institution closed in 1896, at which time he was called to Colby College.

Presidency

He was called to the presidency of Colby College in 1896. In 1899, the Maine Legislature obliged his request to change the name of the institution from Colby University to

. He remained at the head of this institution until 1901.

Post-presidency

In 1901 he became professor of education and director of cooperating work in The University of Chicago. He served as Dean of Education at Chicago between the departure of

John Dewey John Dewey (; October 20, 1859 – June 1, 1952) was an American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer whose ideas have been influential in education and social reform. He was one of the most prominent American scholars in the f ...

in 1904 and the arrival of

Charles Hubbard Judd Charles Hubbard Judd (February 20, 1873 – July 18, 1946) was an American educational psychologist who played an influential role in the formation of the discipline. Part of the larger scientific movement of this period, Judd pushed for the us ...

in 1909. He received the degree of D. D. from Colby College in 1895. Dr. Butler was a member of the

Phi Beta Kappa Society The Phi Beta Kappa Society () is the oldest academic honor society in the United States, and the most prestigious, due in part to its long history and academic selectivity. Phi Beta Kappa aims to promote and advocate excellence in the liberal ar ...

, and of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He represented The University of Chicago at the University Extension Congress, held in London, England, in 1894. He was widely known as a writer and lecturer. Nathaniel Butler died at his home in Chicago on March 3, 1927.

Published works

*''Bellum helveticum: For Beginners In Latin''. Wheaton College Press, Chicago, IL, 1894. 306 pp.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Butler, Nathaniel, Jr. Presidents of Colby College Colby College alumni Colby College faculty 1853 births 1927 deaths