Nicholas Murray Butler was born at Paterson, New Jersey, April 2,
1862. He was educated in the public schools of his native city,
where his father for many years had been president of the board of
education. At sixteen he entered Columbia College, New York, and was
graduated in 1882. The following year he received the degree of A.M.
from his alma mater, and in 1884 the degree of Ph.D. The same year he
visited Europe, studying at the universities of Berlin and Paris. Upon
returning to America, in 1886, he became an instructor in philosophy
in Columbia college. In 1890 he was made professor of philosophy,
ethics and psychology. For a number of years he was president of the
board of education of Paterson, New Jersey, and in 1887 he organized
the New York college for the training of teachers, and which is now
the Teachers’ college, Columbia university. In 1891 he founded the
magazine Educational Review, which he has edited ever since and which
is probably the foremost educational publication in the world. He is
also the editor of the Teachers’ Professional Library and has published
numerous educational essays and addresses. In 1894 he became an
examiner for the state of New York, and in the same year was elected
president of the National Educational association. In September, 1901,
he was elected president of Columbia university to succeed Seth Low. On
February 7, 1887, he married Susanna Edwards Schuyler. One daughter is
the issue of the union.