William Barton Rogers

William Barton Rogers (December 7, 1804 – May 30, 1882) is best known for setting down the founding principles, advocating for, and finally incorporating the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1861. The university opened in 1865 after the American Civil War. Rogers graduated from the College of William and Mary and later held W&M;'s Professorship of Natural Philosophy and Chemistry from 1828 until 1835. He then served as Professor of ... more

William Barton Rogers (December 7, 1804 – May 30, 1882) is best known for setting down the founding principles, advocating for, and finally incorporating the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1861. The university opened in 1865 after the American Civil War. Rogers graduated from the College of William and Mary and later held W&M;'s Professorship of Natural Philosophy and Chemistry from 1828 until 1835. He then served as Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Virginia from 1835 until 1853, when he resigned in protest. While Rogers was Chair of the Department of Philosophy at UVA, he vigorously defended the University's refusal to award honoris causa degrees to the Virginia State Legislature. He went on to found and serve as president of MIT from 1861 to 1870. Though Rogers stood down from this position because of declining health, by necessity he returned to office in 1878 and continued to 1881. He died after collapsing during a speech at MIT's 1882... less