Born October 6, 1813 in Boston.
Died January 14, 1895 in Brookline, Massachusetts
Graduated from Harvard in 1836.
Also studied law at Harvard and was admitted to the Suffolk County bar in 1841.
After practicing law in San Francisco for a very short time in 1855 (the year he arrived in California aboard the clipper ship Winged Arrow), became a teacher of natural sciences in the Union Grammar School and principal of the normal school.
Was a frequent speaker on education and in a lecture entitled "The Mission of the Teacher" he noted that a role of a teacher in shaping the minds of children was comparable to the role of parents. He noted that a good teacher should strive "to elevate his whole school to a high standard of moral excellence." [Pioneers for 100 Years, pages 6 - 7]
Principal of Minns' Evening Normal School established in San Francisco in 1857 (which later became the California State Normal School established by the California Legislature in 1862 and eventually became SJSU).
Principal of the California State Normal School from 1865 - 1866 (second principal of the School).