University of Missouri - Savitar Yearbook (Columbia, MO)

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JllC.tUS OF AVAVEIUIC DEPARTJUKyTS. s

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Prwiaent R. R. 3«$e, CL D. Academy as instructor. k w w ESSE, RICHARD HENRY, seventh president of the University of the State of Missouri, was horn in Lancaster county. ir- ginia, March i, 1S53. He was the youngest of six chihhcn, all of whom are now (1S96) living. His hirthplace was the old Ball farm, the birthplace and early home of Mary Ball, VVashmgton ' s mother. This place is still owned liy President Jesse and two members of his family. He was prepared for college at Hanover Academy. . r -: -. Thence he went to the Univer- sity of Virginia, graduating with distinction in 1S75. The next year he returned to Hanover chicHy in French and mathematics. For the next two years he was principal of an endowed high school in Princess Anne, Maryland. This position he resigned, to the regret of everybody, intending to return to the University of ' irginia and fit himself for the bar. But in the summer of 1S7S the trustees of the University of Louisiana wrote to the University of Virginia asking that a dean be recommended for the academic department. The pro- fessors in the University of Virginia, to whom was addressed the request for a dean, united in recommending Mr. Jesse, without his knowledge or consent. Unanimously elected, he gave up with some reluctance the idea of practicing law, and determined to gi e his entire time and energy to the upbuilding of his department in the University of Louisiana. He achieved great success in building up the academic department, which finally absorbed all the resources of the institution. After the consol- idation of Tulane University and the University of Louisiana Mr. Jesse was offered the choice between the chairs of Latin and Greek. He chose that of Latin, and was made senior professor thereof in the fall of 1884. He was thoroughly tired of administrative work, and determined thenceforth to devote his life entirely to teaching and to scholarly research. This design he pursued for seven years. Without his knowledge or consent, a distinguished profes- sor at the University of Virginia recommended him as president of the University of Missouri. Many friends joined in urgmg his name, and on December 19, 1S90, he was offered the position by the unanimous vote of the trustees. On January 19, 1S91 , he finally accepted the position. In the following June he was duly inaugurated. On July i he took his seat as president. IIis success in his new position is known to all. w fix fl

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