Charles William Eliot was born in Boston March 20, 1834. After a
period spent in the public schools he was prepared for college at the
Boston Latin school, and entering Harvard he graduated in 1852. After
graduation he took a position as tutor of mathematics in Harvard and
went through an advanced course in chemistry with Professor Josiah
P. Cook. In 1858 he undertook a trip to Europe to investigate its
educational methods and make a further study of chemistry. From 1865
to 1869 he was professor of analytical chemistry in the Massachusetts
institute of technology. In 1867 he was elected a fellow of the
American academy of arts and sciences, and also became a member of
the American philosophical society. He has delivered many noteworthy
addresses on educational and scientific subjects and has written
a number of text books, essays and educational contributions to
periodicals. His principal works are text-books on chemistry, which
were written in conjunction with Professor Francis H. Storer. In 1869
he was elected president of Harvard university. He is a member of
many scientific societies and is regarded as an authority on abstruse
questions and problems of chemistry and allied sciences.