Thomas Hollis (1659-1731)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Hollis was a wealthy English merchant and benefactor of Harvard University
. In 1721, he established the Hollis Chair
of Divinity
at Harvard, with a salary of £80 per year. In 1726, he also endowed a chair in mathematics
with the same amount.
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...
. In 1721, he established the Hollis Chair
Hollis Chair
The Hollis Chair may refer to one of several Chairs established at Harvard College:* Hollis Chair of Divinity* Hollis Chair of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy...
of Divinity
Divinity
Divinity and divine are broadly applied but loosely defined terms, used variously within different faiths and belief systems — and even by different individuals within a given faith — to refer to some transcendent or transcendental power or deity, or its attributes or manifestations in...
at Harvard, with a salary of £80 per year. In 1726, he also endowed a chair in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
with the same amount.