Eliphalet Pearson (original) (raw)

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Acting president of Harvard University

Eliphalet Pearson
1st Preceptor of Phillips Academy
In office1778–1786
Preceded by	office established
Succeeded by	Ebenezer Pemberton
Acting President of Harvard University
In office1804–1806
Preceded by	Joseph Willard
Succeeded by	Samuel Webber
Personal details
Born	Eliphalet Pearson(1752-06-11)June 11, 1752Newbury, Massachusetts
Died	September 12, 1826(1826-09-12) (aged 74)Greenland, New Hampshire
Education	The Governor's AcademyHarvard College, 1773

Eliphalet Pearson (June 11, 1752 – September 12, 1826) was an American educator, the first Preceptor of Phillips Academy (1778–86), and the acting president of Harvard University (1804–06). He also co-founded the American Education Society.[1][nb 1]

Pearson graduated from Harvard in 1773, where he was a member of the Hasty Pudding, after having attended Dummer Charity School (now known as The Governor's Academy). He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1781.[2] Beginning in 1786, he was the second person to hold the Hancock Chair of Hebrew and Other Oriental Languages.[3] He held the chair until 1806.

After the death of Joseph Willard in 1804, Pearson became the interim president of Harvard University. He resigned that post in 1806, when Samuel Webber became president.

1. ^ The American Society for the Education of Pious Youth for the Gospel Ministry was "organized in 1815 for the purpose of aid in the education of Protestant clergymen." It was renamed "American Education Society" in 1820.[1]

2. ^ a b Monroe, Paul (ed.), Cyclopedia of Education, New York: Macmillan, hdl:2027/uc2.ark:/13960/t1vd73q7n – via HathiTrust 1911-1913

3. ^ "Book of Members, 1780–2010: Chapter P" (PDF). American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved July 28, 2014.

4. ^ "Papers of Eliphalet Pearson". Harvard University Archives. Retrieved 11 December 2023.