John H. Peck

John Hudson Peck (February 7, 1838 – May 5, 1919) was the eighth president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

John H. Peck
Born	John Hudson Peck February 7, 1838 Hudson, New York
Died	May 5, 1919 (aged 81) Troy, New York
Education	Hamilton College
Occupation	Academic
Spouse(s)	Mercy P. Mann ​ (m. 1883)​

Biography

He was born on February 7, 1838 in Hudson, New York.[1] He was a descendant of William Peck, one of the original founders of the New Haven Colony.[2] In 1859, he received a B.A. degree from Hamilton College. He later received M.A. and L.L.D degrees from Hamilton. He was admitted to the bar in New York State in 1861 and began to practice law in Troy, New York. In 1883, he married Mercy P. Mann. In the same year, he became a trustee of the Troy Female Seminary, which became the Emma Willard School. He was also a trustee of the Episcopal diocese of Albany. In 1888, he was appointed president of Rensselaer, and remained president for twelve years. He died at his home in Troy on May 5, 1919.[3]

References

1. Herringshaw, Thomas William, ed. (1914). Herringshaw's National Library of American Biography. IV. American Publishers Association. p. 414. Retrieved July 23, 2020 – via Google Books.
2. Johnson, Rossiter, The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, The Biographical Society, 1904
3. "John H. Peck Dead". Brooklyn Times-Union. Troy, New York. May 5, 1919. p. 3. Retrieved July 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.

• Presidents of RPI: John H. Peck