William Greenough Thayer
Encyclopedia
Rev. William Greenough Thayer DD (24 December 1863 – 27 November 1934) was an American educator, headmaster of St. Mark's School
from 1894–1930.
, Staten Island
, New York
, the son of son of Robert Helyer Thayer, a hardware merchant and ship chandler, and Hannah Appleton.
After graduating from Amherst College
in 1885, he attendied the Union Theological Seminary and Episcopal Theological School (Cambridge), he was ordained an Episcopal
minister.
, from 1889–1894, before being appointed headmaster of St. Mark's School
, a post he held for 36 years until 1930. During this period, Thayer made numerous improvements to the school and its reputation rose to be amongst the most prominent private schools in the country.
Eight or ten times in the school year, Thayer would leave school to marry his alumni. From the Time article: "Imposing is his record at socialite weddings, for loyal St. Mark's grooms will have no other cleric."
He was known by staff and students as "Twill".
They married in Boston on 1 June 1891. They had five sons and two daughters:
St. Mark's School
St. Mark’s School is a coeducational, Episcopal, preparatory school, situated on in Southborough, Massachusetts, from Boston. It was founded in 1865 as an all-boys' school by Joseph Burnett, a wealthy native of Southborough who developed and marketed the world-famous Burnett Vanilla Extract . ...
from 1894–1930.
Early life
Thayer was born in New BrightonNew Brighton, Staten Island
New Brighton, formerly an independent village, is today a neighborhood located on the North Shore of Staten Island in New York City, USA. The neighborhood comprises an older industrial and residential harbor front area along the Kill Van Kull west of St. George.The village of New Brighton was...
, Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, the son of son of Robert Helyer Thayer, a hardware merchant and ship chandler, and Hannah Appleton.
After graduating from Amherst College
Amherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
in 1885, he attendied the Union Theological Seminary and Episcopal Theological School (Cambridge), he was ordained an Episcopal
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
minister.
Career
Thayer taught at Groton SchoolGroton School
Groton School is a private, Episcopal, college preparatory boarding school located in Groton, Massachusetts, U.S. It enrolls approximately 375 boys and girls, from the eighth through twelfth grades...
, from 1889–1894, before being appointed headmaster of St. Mark's School
St. Mark's School
St. Mark’s School is a coeducational, Episcopal, preparatory school, situated on in Southborough, Massachusetts, from Boston. It was founded in 1865 as an all-boys' school by Joseph Burnett, a wealthy native of Southborough who developed and marketed the world-famous Burnett Vanilla Extract . ...
, a post he held for 36 years until 1930. During this period, Thayer made numerous improvements to the school and its reputation rose to be amongst the most prominent private schools in the country.
Eight or ten times in the school year, Thayer would leave school to marry his alumni. From the Time article: "Imposing is his record at socialite weddings, for loyal St. Mark's grooms will have no other cleric."
He was known by staff and students as "Twill".
Personal life
His wife was Violet Otis (17 January 1871 – 16 November 1962), daughter of William C. and Margaret (Sigourney) Otis of Boston.They married in Boston on 1 June 1891. They had five sons and two daughters:
- Sigourney ThayerSigourney ThayerSigourney Thayer was an American theatrical producer, World War I aviator, and poet.Thayer was born in Southborough, Massachusetts, the son of Rev. William Greenough Thayer, headmaster of St. Mark's School from 1894–1930, and Violet Otis. He was the brother of Robert H...
1896-1944 - Robert H. ThayerRobert H. ThayerRobert Helyer Thayer was an American lawyer, naval officer and diplomat.-Early life:Thayer was born in Southborough, Massachusetts, the son of Rev. William Greenough Thayer , headmaster of St. Mark's School from 1894–1930, and Violet Otis Thayer . He attended St...
1901-1984 - John Otis Thayer (died 1988)
External links
Time article on his retirement in 1930- The Rev. William Greenough Thayer | Rectors and Vicars | Parish History | St. Andrew's Episcopal Church - Ayer, Massachusetts at www.standrewsayer.org Biography