James Hall Mason Knox
James Hall Mason Knox | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | June 10, 1824 |
| Died | January 21, 1903 (aged 78) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Columbia University New Brunswick Theological Seminary |
| Occupation | Presbyterian minister |
| Ordained | September 1846 |
Offices held | Lafayette College president 1883–1890 |
| Signature | |
 | |
Reverend James Hall Mason Knox
Early life
Knox was born in New York City in 1824. His father, Rev. John Knox D.D., was the head pastor of the Collegiate Dutch Church for forty years, and his mother was the eldest daughter of John M. Mason.[1][2]
Knox attended Columbia College, graduating in 1841, before studying theology at the Seminary of the Reformed Church in New Brunswick, New Jersey. In 1845, he was licensed to preach by the classis of New York, and was ordained in September 1846 by the presbytery of Newton, New Jersey.[1]
Career
Following his ordainment, Knox led an illustrious career as a pastor throughout the northeast. For the first five years, Knox preached at the Presbyterian Church in
Knox was called out of the ministry while at Bristol to accept the role of president of Lafayette College as its eighth president in 1883. The board of trustees at Lafayette had chosen Knox unanimously upon the resignation of his predecessor, William Cassady Cattell. Cattell, who has just resigned after a long twenty-year tenure, was a popular figure in the city as he helped steady the very financially troubled college during his term. Knox continued in his predecessor's success, by making sure the college's endowment was filled and interest in the school was still high.
In an attempt to raise the college's endowment, Knox was instrumental in securing a donation from Daniel B. Fayerweather, who ran the world's largest leather manufacturing business in the world, known as Fayerweather & Ladew.[4][5] Fayerweather left many small fortunes to colleges around the country, and to Lafayette he left the amount of $100,000 (equivalent to $2.91 million in 2023 dollars),[6] and later had a dormitory on campus named after him.[2][5]
Knox resigned the presidency in June, 1890, and spent the next two years in Europe before returning to the United States, choosing to live in Baltimore. He was elected as vice-president of the Presbyterian Historical Society in 1890, a position in which he served until his death.[1]
Personal life
Knox was married twice. His first wife was Louise Wakeman, whom he married on September 17, 1846. Together they had two children, and in 1871 Louise died. On December 16, 1869, Knox married Helen R. Thompson, and together they had one son.[7]
In 1861, Knox received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from his alma mater, Columbia College. Later, he received the honorary degree of Legum Doctor from the same college in 1885.[2] He was also a member of the Victoria Institute in London.[7]
After his presidency at Lafayette, the college recognized his service by dedicating to him a building, named Knox Hall.[8]
Knox died of pneumonia on January 21 in his home in Baltimore.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d Society, Presbyterian Historical (1904). Journal - Presbyterian Historical Society. Department of History of the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. pp. 65–75. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
- ^ a b c d The Lafayette Weekly. 1902. pp. 111–112.
- ISBN 9780806300702. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
- ISBN 978-1-110-47211-6.
- ^ ISBN 9785883573063. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
- Gross Domestic Product deflatorfigures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
- ^ a b The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography: Being the History of the United States as Illustrated in the Lives of the Founders, Builders, and Defenders of the Republic, and of the Men and Women who are Doing the Work and Moulding the Thought of the Present Time. J. T. White. 1909. p. 243. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
- ^ Skillman, David Bishop (1932). The Biography of a College: Being the History of the First Century of the Life of Lafayette College. Easton, Pennsylvania: Lafayette College.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
