Henry Dunster

1609 (age 49)

Bolholt, Lancashire, United States

Dunster taught school and became curate of Bury but, probably on account of non-conformity, emigrated to Massachusetts where he arrived in 1640. The institution which had been but a struggling school soon became a college under his administration. His reputation for learning, particularly in the Oriental languages, had preceded him and almost as soon as he arrived he was made president of Harvard, August 27, 1640. Rules of admission and the principles according to which degrees should be granted were laid down, and scholastic forms established similar to those of the English universities. The establishing act of the General Court in 1642 was probably, and the charter of 1650 avowedly, obtained on Dunster’s petition. He was indefatigable in his services, and, although a poor man, gave the college 100 acres of land at a crisis in its affairs. The first president’s house and college hall practically owed their existence to him, and through the Commissioners of the United Colonies he tried to interest all of the colonies in support of the institution. It may be noted that he had to call the attention of the General Court to the need for influencing graduates to remain in America, as of the twenty who graduated prior to 1646 eleven emigrated to England and remained there permanently. The first printing- press within the present limits of the United States was established in 1639 and two years later transferred to Dunster’s own house and placed under his direction. Although he had no means of his own, the colony made no provision for paying him a salary as president other than by the allotment to him of certain taxes, leaving him to do the work of collecting them, which not only threw a large burden upon him but caused hint heavy loss. After his resignation there was about £40 still due him which the college asked the General Court to pay him in view of his invaluable services but the Court refused, although after his death it compromised by paying half the sum due to his widow. In 1653 Dunster adopted some of the principles of the Baptists and was forced to resign his presidency, October 24, 1654. After petitioning twice he was allowed to remain in the house built largely by himself until March 1655. Either immediately or within a few months he moved to Scituate where he acted as minister for some years, dying there, probably, in 1658/59.

Henry Dunster

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Background

Henry Dunster was born in 1609 in Bolholt, Lancashire, United States. He was the son of Henry Dunster of the parish of Bury, Lancashire, England, where the younger Henry was baptized on November 26, 1609.

Education

Dunster's family were apparently yeomen or small copy-holders of Balehoult, in the parish of Bury, but the he received a university education at Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he was granted the degrees of Bachelor of Arts (1630/31) and Mster of Arts (1634).

Career

Dunster taught school and became curate of Bury but, probably on account of non-conformity, emigrated to Massachusetts where he arrived in 1640. The institution which had been but a struggling school soon became a college under his administration.

His reputation for learning, particularly in the Oriental languages, had preceded him and almost as soon as he arrived he was made president of Harvard, August 27, 1640.

Rules of admission and the principles according to which degrees should be granted were laid down, and scholastic forms established similar to those of the English universities.

The establishing act of the General Court in 1642 was probably, and the charter of 1650 avowedly, obtained on Dunster’s petition.

He was indefatigable in his services, and, although a poor man, gave the college 100 acres of land at a crisis in its affairs.

The first president’s house and college hall practically owed their existence to him, and through the Commissioners of the United Colonies he tried to interest all of the colonies in support of the institution.

It may be noted that he had to call the attention of the General Court to the need for influencing graduates to remain in America, as of the twenty who graduated prior to 1646 eleven emigrated to England and remained there permanently.

The first printing- press within the present limits of the United States was established in 1639 and two years later transferred to Dunster’s own house and placed under his direction.

Although he had no means of his own, the colony made no provision for paying him a salary as president other than by the allotment to him of certain taxes, leaving him to do the work of collecting them, which not only threw a large burden upon him but caused hint heavy loss. After his resignation there was about £40 still due him which the college asked the General Court to pay him in view of his invaluable services but the Court refused, although after his death it compromised by paying half the sum due to his widow. In 1653 Dunster adopted some of the principles of the Baptists and was forced to resign his presidency, October 24, 1654.

After petitioning twice he was allowed to remain in the house built largely by himself until March 1655.

Either immediately or within a few months he moved to Scituate where he acted as minister for some years, dying there, probably, in 1658/59.

Achievements

Dunster was the first president of Harvard College.

Connections

On June 22, 1641 Dunster married Elizabeth (Harris) Glover who died on August 23, 1643 and in 1644 he married Elizabeth (Atkinson?) who died on September 12, 1690.

Father:: Henry Dunster
Wife:: Elizabeth Atkinson
Wife:: Elizabeth (Harris) Glover

References

Henry Dunster and His Descendants

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