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List of presidents of Princeton University

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The back of Nassau Hall, with Cannon Green in the foreground
Nassau Hall houses the Office of the President.

Princeton University, founded in 1746 as the College of New Jersey, is a private Ivy League research university located in Princeton, New Jersey.[1][2] The university is led by a president, who is selected by the board of trustees by ballot.[3] The president is an ex officio member of the board and presides at its meetings.[4] One of five officers of the university's legal corporation, the Trustees of Princeton University, the president also acts as the chief executive officer.[3] The president is tasked with "general supervision of the interests of the University" and represents the institution in public.[3] If the office is vacant, the board can either appoint an acting president, or the university's provost can serve in such capacity.[3] The office was established in Princeton's original charter of 1746.[5]

The institution's first president was Jonathan Dickinson in 1747,[6] and its 20th and current is Christopher Eisgruber, who was elected in 2013.[7][a] All of Princeton's presidents have been male besides Shirley Tilghman;[9] all have been white.[10] James Carnahan had the longest serving tenure at 31 years, and Jonathan Edwards had the shortest at five weeks.[6] There have been six acting presidents,[11] and eleven presidents who have been alumni of the university.[10] Princeton presidents have a long association with the Presbyterian church,[12] with every president before Woodrow Wilson in 1902 being a Presbyterian clergyman.[13] The first nine presidents were slaveholders, with five holding slaves while living in the president's house.[11] Thirteen of Princeton's seventeen deceased presidents are buried in President Lot of Princeton Cemetery.[14] As of 2019, the salary of the president was $944,952.[15]

The president's official residence has changed several times over the lifespan of the university. Built in 1756, the John Maclean House, also known as the President's House, was where the president lived until Prospect House was acquired in 1878.[16] In 1968, the official residence switched again to Walter Lowrie House.[17] The Office of the President is housed in Nassau Hall.[18]

Presidents

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List of presidents
No. President Presidency Notes Ref.
1 Portrait of Jonathan Dickinson Jonathan Dickinson 1747 Died shortly after entering office from a pleuritic illness[19] [6]
2 Portrait of Aaron Burr Sr. Aaron Burr Sr. 1748–1757[b] Minister of the Presbyterian Church of Newark.[21] Father of Aaron Burr, the third Vice President of the United States.[22] Died from illness while in office.[23] [6]
– Seal of Princeton University David Cowell 1757–1758 Served as acting president.[11] [11]
3 Portrait of Jonathan Edwards Jonathan Edwards 1758 Eminent theologian to the First Great Awakening.[24][25] Died five weeks into office after a fever from a smallpox vaccine.[26] [6]
– Seal of Princeton University Jacob Green 1758–1759 Delegate for Morris County to the Provincial Congress of New Jersey.[27] Father of Ashbel Green, 8th president of the university.[28][27] Served as acting president.[6] [6]
4 Portrait of Samuel Davies Samuel Davies 1759–1761 Died shortly after entering office from pneumonia[29] [6]
5 Portrait of Samuel Finley Samuel Finley 1761–1766 Founder of West Nottingham Academy;[30][31] Minister of the Cold Spring Presbyterian Church.[32] Graduate of the Log College.[33] Died while in office in Philadelphia seeking medical treatment.[34] [6]
– Seal of Princeton University John Blair 1767–1768 Graduate of the Log College.[33] Served as acting president.[6] [6]
6 Portrait of John Witherspoon John Witherspoon 1768–1794 Signer of the Declaration of Independence; Delegate to the Second Continental Congress; Moderator of the first General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America.[35] Died while in office.[36] [6]
7 Portrait of Samuel S. Smith Samuel S. Smith 1795–1812 First president of Hampden–Sydney College.[37] College of New Jersey alumnus.[10] Resigned after pressure from the university trustees and ongoing issues with the institution.[38] [6]
8 Portrait of Ashbel Green Ashbel Green 1812–1822 Third Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives.[39] College of New Jersey alumnus.[10] Resigned after his loss of confidence in the university trustees.[28] [6]
– Portrait of Philip Lindsley Philip Lindsley 1822–1823 First president of the now-defunct University of Nashville.[40] College of New Jersey alumnus.[41] Served as acting president.[6] [6]
9 Portrait of James Carnahan James Carnahan 1823–1854 One of the founders of the Chi Phi fraternity.[42][43] College of New Jersey alumnus.[10] [6]
10 Portrait of John Maclean Jr. John Maclean Jr. 1854–1868 College of New Jersey alumnus[10] [6]
11 Portrait of James McCosh James McCosh 1868–1888 [6]
12 Portrait of Francis L. Patton Francis L. Patton 1888–1902 Resigned after pressure from university trustees due to dissatisfaction with his lackluster administration style.[44] [6]
13 Portrait of Woodrow Wilson Woodrow Wilson 1902–1910 28th President of the United States; 34th Governor of New Jersey.[45] College of New Jersey alumnus.[10] [6]
– Portrait of John Aikman Stewart John A. Stewart 1910–1912 Served as acting president[6] [6]
14 Portrait of John G. Hibben John G. Hibben 1912–1932 College of New Jersey alumnus[10] [6]
– Seal of Princeton University Edward D. Duffield 1932–1933 Served as acting president[6] [6]
15 Portrait of Harold W. Dodds Harold W. Dodds 1933–1957 President of the National Municipal League.[46] Princeton alumnus.[10] [6]
16 Seal of Princeton University Robert F. Goheen 1957–1972 United States Ambassador to India.[47] Princeton alumnus.[10] [6]
17 Seal of Princeton University William G. Bowen 1972–1988 President of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.[48] Princeton alumnus.[10] [49]
18 Portrait of Harold T. Shapiro Harold T. Shapiro 1988–2001 10th President of the University of Michigan.[50] Princeton alumnus.[10] [49]
19 Portrait of Shirley M. Tilghman Shirley M. Tilghman 2001–2013 First female president of Princeton University[9] [49]
20 Portrait of Christopher L. Eisgruber Christopher L. Eisgruber 2013–present Princeton alumnus[10] [49]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Although 25 people have held the office, Princeton University does not consider acting presidents in its counting; as a result, in official releases by the university, Christopher Eisgruber is considered the 20th president.[8]
  2. ^ Burr was formally elected president in November 1748; however, he had been in charge since Dickinson's death in October 1747.[20]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Leitch 1978, p. 199.
  2. ^ Fiske, Edward B.; Lecuyer, Michelle (2019). Fiske Guide to Colleges 2020. Naperville: Sourcebooks. pp. 563–567. ISBN 978-1-4926-6494-9.
  3. ^ a b c d "Princeton University Bylaws" (PDF). Princeton University. May 30, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 4, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  4. ^ "Board of Trustees". Office of the President. Princeton University. Archived from the original on July 4, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  5. ^ Leitch 1978, p. 89.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab Leitch 1978, p. 376.
  7. ^ "Christopher Eisgruber". The Presidents of Princeton University. Princeton University. Archived from the original on July 22, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  8. ^ Aronson, Emily (September 22, 2013). "Eisgruber installed as president of Princeton; upholds ideal of liberal arts". Princeton University. Archived from the original on May 26, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Horwitz, Stephen (June 2001). "Biologist becomes first woman to lead Princeton". Nature Medicine. 7 (6): 646. doi:10.1038/88993. ISSN 1546-170X.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Presidents of Princeton". Princetoniana Museum. Princeton University. Archived from the original on July 29, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  11. ^ a b c d Durkee 2022, p. 362.
  12. ^ Wertenbaker, Thomas J. (1998). "The College of New Jersey and the Presbyterian Church". The Journal of Presbyterian History (1997-). 76 (1). Presbyterian Historical Society: 31–35. ISSN 1521-9216. JSTOR 23335338.
  13. ^ Axtell, James (2006). The Making of Princeton University: From Woodrow Wilson to the Present. Princeton: Princeton University Press. p. 330. ISBN 978-0-691-12686-9.
  14. ^ Durkee 2022, p. 363.
  15. ^ "Trustees Of Princeton University - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. 2019. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  16. ^ Leitch 1978, p. 299.
  17. ^ Leitch 1978, p. 292.
  18. ^ "About The Office". Office of the President. Princeton University. Archived from the original on June 27, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  19. ^ Leitch 1978, p. 136.
  20. ^ Leitch 1978, p. 377.
  21. ^ Leitch 1978, p. 67.
  22. ^ Leitch 1978, p. 69.
  23. ^ Leitch 1978, p. 68.
  24. ^ Marsden, George M. (2003). Jonathan Edwards: A Life. New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 1. ISBN 978-0-300-09693-4.
  25. ^ Kidd, Thomas S. (2007). The Great Awakening: The Roots of Evangelical Christianity in Colonial America. New Haven: Yale University Press. pp. 13, 22. ISBN 978-0-300-11887-2.
  26. ^ Leitch 1978, p. 152.
  27. ^ a b "Guide to the Jacob Green Collection 1779-1782, ca.1900 MG 579". The New Jersey Historical Society. Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  28. ^ a b Lewis, Robert E. (1957). "Ashbel Green, 1762–1848—Preacher, Educator, Editor". Journal of the Presbyterian Historical Society (1943-1961). 35 (3). Presbyterian Historical Society: 141–156. ISSN 0147-3735. JSTOR 23325169.
  29. ^ Leitch 1978, p. 126.
  30. ^ Sturgill, Erika Quesenbery (October 14, 2017). "The Irish roots of West Nottingham's founder". Cecil Whig. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  31. ^ 2012 Congressional Record, Vol. 158, Page S491 (February 9, 2012).
  32. ^ "Famous Old New-Jersey Church: A Presbyterian Congregation Formed 182 Years Ago". The New York Times. May 3, 1896. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  33. ^ a b Craven, Elijah R. (June 1902). "The Log College of Neshaminy and Princeton University". Journal of the Presbyterian Historical Society (1901-1930). 1 (4). Presbyterian Historical Society: 309. JSTOR 23322482.
  34. ^ Leitch 1978, p. 181.
  35. ^ Leitch 1978, pp. 523–527.
  36. ^ Leitch 1978, p. 523.
  37. ^ "Hampden-Sydney College History". Hampden-Sydney College Archives & Special Collections. Hampden-Sydney College. Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  38. ^ Leitch 1978, p. 444.
  39. ^ "History of the Chaplaincy, Office of the Chaplain". Office of the Chaplain. United States House of Representatives. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  40. ^ Davidson, James F. (May 1964). "Philip Lindsley: The Teacher as Prophet". Peabody Journal of Education. 41 (6). Peabody College of Vanderbilt University: 327–331. doi:10.1080/01619566409537208. JSTOR 1490123.
  41. ^ Halsey, Leroy J. (1859). A Sketch of the Life and Educational Labors of Philip Lindsley, D.D., Late President of the University of Nashville. Hartford: Press of Williams, Wiley & Turner. pp. 7–8. OCLC 39536433.
  42. ^ The Chi Phi Fraternity, Centennial Memorial Volume: Commemorating the Centennial Anniversary of the Princeton Society of Chi Phi to which the Fraternity Owes Its Existence. Lancaster: Chi Phi. 1924. pp. 25–27. OCLC 2140914.
  43. ^ "About Chi Phi". Chi Phi Fraternity. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  44. ^ Leitch 1978, p. 356.
  45. ^ "Woodrow Wilson". The White House. Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  46. ^ Farber, M.A. (October 26, 1980). "Harold W. Dodds, 91, Former Princeton President; A Test of Principles First Taught High School Helped Student Move". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  47. ^ Martin, Douglas (April 1, 2008). "Robert F. Goheen, Innovative Princeton President, Is Dead at 88". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  48. ^ Roberts, Sam (October 21, 2016). "William G. Bowen, Princeton Educator Who Championed Poor and Minority Students, Dies at 83". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  49. ^ a b c d "The Presidents of Princeton University". The Presidents of Princeton University. Princeton University. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  50. ^ Carmody, Deirdre (April 29, 1987). "Man in the News; New Head of Princeton: Dr. Harold Tafler Shapiro". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2021.

Works cited

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