Winfield Scott Chaplin

Winfield Scott Chaplin (1847 - 1918) was the chancellor of Washington University in St. Louis from 1891 until 1907.

Higher Education

Chaplin graduated from West Point in 1870. After completing his military service, he held a number of academic positions in civil and mechanical engineering; including Maine State College, Imperial University in Tokyo, Union College, and Harvard. He served six years dean of the Lawrence Scientific School at Harvard for six years before being named Chancellor of Washington University at age 43. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B06EFDD1339E033A25753C3A96E9C94609ED7CF "Prof. Chaplin's New Post; He will be Chancellor of the Washington University"] , "New York Times," August 30, 1891.]

Washington University

During his tenure, Washington University in St. Louis moved from downtown St. Louis to the 103 acre Hilltop Campus (now know as the Danforth Campus) on the western edge of Forest Park. The St. Louis Medical College joined the University as did Missouri Dental College. The University awarded its first Ph.D. during Chaplin's administration. He brought key figures onto the board of directors who would have lasting influence of the University, most notably Samuel Cupples, Adolphus Busch, and Robert S. Brookings.

Later years

After 16 years at the University, Chaplin moved to the southwest to lead the American Rio Grande Land and Irrigation Company. He later moved to San Antonio, where he served as president of the Academy of Science.

Honors

Following his years as Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Tokyo, he was awarded the Imperial Order of Meiji in 1882. [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=MlEDAAAAYAAJ&printsec=titlepage&dq=imperial+order+of+meiji#PPT187,M1 Rossiter, Johnson, ed. (1904) "Chaplin, Winfield Scott"] , "The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans," Vol. II ("n.b., not paginated").]

References

* Rossiter, Johnson, ed. (1904). [http://books.google.com/books?id=MlEDAAAAYAAJ&dq=imperial+order+of+meiji "The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans"] , Vol. II. Boston: The Biographical Society.

External links

* [http://www.wustl.edu Washington University in Saint Louis]
* [http://chancellorsroom.wustl.edu/chaplin.htm Biographical entry] at Washington University in Saint Louis