Background
He was born on December 5, 1816 in Lansingburgh, New New York
He was born on December 5, 1816 in Lansingburgh, New New York
He entered Rensselaer as a student in 1834, but stayed for only four months. In 1841, he joined a business that was started by his father manufacturing oil cloth. In 1861, he was appointed a trustee of Rensselaer and served as acting president in 1887-1888.