Cornelius Conway Felton
Encyclopedia
Cornelius Conway Felton (November 6, 1807 – February 26, 1862) was an American educator. He was regent of the Smithsonian Institution
, as well as professor
of Greek literature and president
of Harvard University
.
Felton was born in West Newbury, Massachusetts
. He graduated at Harvard College in 1827, having taught school in the winter vacations of his sophomore and junior years. After teaching in the Livingstone High School of Geneseo, New York, for two years, he became tutor at Harvard in 1829, university professor of Greek
in 1832, and Eliot professor of Greek literature in 1834. In 1860 he succeeded James Walker as president of Harvard, which position he held until his death, at Chester, Pennsylvania
.
Dr Felton edited many classical texts. His annotations on Wolf
's text of the Iliad (1833) are especially valuable. Greece, Ancient and Modern (2 vols., 1867), forty-nine lectures before the Lowell Institute
, is scholarly, able and suggestive of the author's personality.
Among his miscellaneous publications are the American edition of Sir William Smith
's History of Greece (1855); translations of Menzel
's German Literature (1840), of Munk
's Metres of the Greeks and Romans (1844), and of Guyot
's Earth and Man (1849); and Familiar Letters from Europe (1865).
Felton was the brother of Samuel Morse Felton, Sr.
and John B. Felton
and the uncle of Samuel Morse Felton, Jr.
.
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
, as well as professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Greek literature and president
President of Harvard University
The President of Harvard University is the chief administrator of the university. Ex officio the chairman of the Harvard Corporation, he or she is appointed by and is responsible to the other members of that body, who delegate to him or her the day-to-day running of the university...
of Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
West Newbury, Massachusetts
West Newbury is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. Situated on the Merrimack River, its population was 4,450 at the 2006 census. Along with neighboring Merrimac and Groveland, it is part of the Pentucket Regional School District....
. He graduated at Harvard College in 1827, having taught school in the winter vacations of his sophomore and junior years. After teaching in the Livingstone High School of Geneseo, New York, for two years, he became tutor at Harvard in 1829, university professor of Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
in 1832, and Eliot professor of Greek literature in 1834. In 1860 he succeeded James Walker as president of Harvard, which position he held until his death, at Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a population of 33,972 at the 2010 census. Chester is situated on the Delaware River, between the cities of Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware.- History :...
.
Dr Felton edited many classical texts. His annotations on Wolf
Friedrich August Wolf
Friedrich August Wolf was a German philologist and critic.He was born at Hainrode, a village not far from Nordhausen, Germany. His father was the village schoolmaster and organist...
's text of the Iliad (1833) are especially valuable. Greece, Ancient and Modern (2 vols., 1867), forty-nine lectures before the Lowell Institute
Lowell Institute
The Lowell Institute is an educational foundation in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., providing for free public lectures, and endowed by the bequest of $250,000 left by John Lowell, Jr., who died in 1836. Under the terms of his will 10% of the net income was to be added to the principal, which in...
, is scholarly, able and suggestive of the author's personality.
Among his miscellaneous publications are the American edition of Sir William Smith
William Smith (lexicographer)
Sir William Smith Kt. was a noted English lexicographer.-Early life:Born at Enfield in 1813 of Nonconformist parents, he was originally destined for a theological career, but instead was articled to a solicitor. In his spare time he taught himself classics, and when he entered University College...
's History of Greece (1855); translations of Menzel
Wolfgang Menzel
Wolfgang Menzel , German poet, critic and literary historian, was born at Waldenburg in Silesia.He studied at Breslau, Jena and Bonn, and after living for some time in Aarau and Heidelberg finally settled in Stuttgart, where, from 1830 to 1838, he had a seat in the Württemberg Diet.His first work,...
's German Literature (1840), of Munk
Eduard Munk
Eduard Munk was a German philologist. He was a cousin of Salomon Munk.Munk was born in Gross Glogau. He studied from 1822 to 1825 at Breslau and Berlin, and was a favorite disciple of August Böckh...
's Metres of the Greeks and Romans (1844), and of Guyot
Arnold Henry Guyot
Arnold Henry Guyot was a Swiss-American geologist and geographer.-Biography:...
's Earth and Man (1849); and Familiar Letters from Europe (1865).
Felton was the brother of Samuel Morse Felton, Sr.
Samuel Morse Felton, Sr.
Samuel Morse Felton, Sr. was a civil engineer and railroad executive. He was the Superintendent and engineer of the Fitchburg Railroad 1843-1851 and president of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad from 1851-1865. Felton left BWBRR to become President of the Pennsylvania Steel...
and John B. Felton
John B. Felton
John Brooks Felton ....
and the uncle of Samuel Morse Felton, Jr.
Samuel Morse Felton, Jr.
Samuel Morse Felton, Jr. was an American railroad executive. He was a 1873 graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity.-Railroad career:...
.