Henry Durant

Henry Durant (June 18, 1802 in Acton, Massachusetts – January 22, 1875 in Oakland, California) was the founding president of the University of California.[1]

For the Anglican bishop, see Henry Durant (bishop). For the founder of Wellesley College, see Henry Fowle Durant. For the British opinion pollster, see Henry William Durant.

Henry Durant
16th Mayor of Oakland
In office March 4, 1873 – January 22, 1875 (death)
1st President of the University of California
In office August 16, 1870 – 1872
Personal details
Born	(1802-06-18)June 18, 1802 Acton, Massachusetts
Died	January 22, 1875(1875-01-22) (aged 72) Oakland, California
Alma mater	Yale College

Biography

Durant attended Phillips Academy and the Andover Theological Seminary in Andover, Massachusetts; he then studied for the ministry at Yale College, from which he graduated in 1827. In 1833 he was ordained pastor of the Congregational church of Byfield, Massachusetts. In the same year, he married Mary E. Buffett of Stanwich, Connecticut.

Career

After serving in the ministry for 16 years, he resigned his pastorate and became headmaster of the Dummer Academy (today known as The Governor's Academy) in Byfield. He held that position from 1849 to 1852.

In 1853, Durant came to California and founded the Contra Costa Academy, as a private school for boys. In 1855, the school was chartered as the College of California.

The college later disincorporated and merged with the state of California's Agricultural, Mining, and Mechanical Arts College to create the University of California in 1868. Durant was elected the first president of the University of California on August 16, 1870 and resigned only two years later in order to relinquish the position to a younger man (Daniel Coit Gilman). In 1873, the University of California moved to its new Berkeley campus.

Old age did not keep Durant from being elected the 16th mayor of Oakland, although he only served for three years before dying in office, on January 22, 1875.

See also

• Hotel Durant

References

• Biography at UC Berkeley

1. SF Chronicle, July 25, 2010. "Where to Find Celebrities' Resting Places" by Charlie Wells

Political offices
Preceded by Nathaniel W. Spaulding	Mayor of Oakland, California 1873—1875	Succeeded by Mack Webber
Academic offices
Preceded by Position created	President of the University of California 1870–1872	Succeeded by Daniel Coit Gilman