Elisha Benjamin Andrews was born at Hinsdale, New Hampshire, January
10, 1844. He received a public school education, meantime working on
a farm. At the outbreak of the Civil war, although only seventeen
years of age, he enlisted and served with distinction, being promoted
to the rank of second lieutenant. A severe wound destroyed the sight
of his left eye, and he received his honorable discharge in 1864.
Forthwith preparing for college at Powers institute, he later studied
at Wesleyan academy, entered Brown university and was graduated in
the class of 1870. During the two years following he was principal of
the Connecticut Literary institute at Suffield. In 1874 he graduated
from the Newton Theological institution and was the same year ordained
pastor of the First Baptist church, Beverly, Massachusetts. One year
after he accepted the presidency of Denison university, Granville,
Ohio. Afterward he held the professorship of homoletics, pastoral
theology and church polity in Newton Theological institution, where he
remained three years, and after studying a year in Germany, he filled
the chair of professor of history and economy in Brown university.
In 1889 he was elected president of Brown university. He has always
been noted for his interest in public questions and has been a liberal
contributor to magazines and other periodicals. He has published
several books on history, philosophy and economics. In 1870 he married
Ella A. Allen, of Boston, and has had two children by her.