Nathan Lord
Encyclopedia
Nathan Lord was a U.S. Congregational
clergyman and educator. His pro-slavery views, unusual in abolitionist New England
, brought him notoriety during the American Civil War
.
He graduated from Bowdoin College
in 1809, attended Andover Theological Seminary and served as president of Dartmouth College
from 1828 to 1863. Lord was able to bring the college out of debt, improve the overall curriculum, and raise admission levels. Though he began as an abolitionist, Lord eventually changed his views toward a pro-slavery stance, basing his change on his strongly held views of sin and divine providence. Regardless of this change, Lord did not prevent African-Americans from attending Dartmouth, and several African-American students were admitted to the college, among them Jonathan Clarkson Gibbs
(who graduated in 1852).
Ultimately, his views on slavery brought a storm of controversy as the nation entered the Civil War, earning him the enmity of several members of the Board of Trustees, including Amos Tuck
(1835), a founding member of the Republican Party
, and close friend of Abraham Lincoln
. Matters came to a head in 1863 when Lord prevented the granting of an honorary degree to President Lincoln. Ultimately, this resulted in actions by the Trustees that essentially warranted his removal from office. However, Lord tendered his resignation.
He continued to live in as an active member of the Dartmouth College community, in Hanover, New Hampshire
, until his death in 1870.
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
clergyman and educator. His pro-slavery views, unusual in abolitionist New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, brought him notoriety during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
He graduated from Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
in 1809, attended Andover Theological Seminary and served as president of Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
from 1828 to 1863. Lord was able to bring the college out of debt, improve the overall curriculum, and raise admission levels. Though he began as an abolitionist, Lord eventually changed his views toward a pro-slavery stance, basing his change on his strongly held views of sin and divine providence. Regardless of this change, Lord did not prevent African-Americans from attending Dartmouth, and several African-American students were admitted to the college, among them Jonathan Clarkson Gibbs
Jonathan Clarkson Gibbs
Jonathan Clarkson Gibbs, II was a Presbyterian minister and a prominent African-American officeholder during Reconstruction...
(who graduated in 1852).
Ultimately, his views on slavery brought a storm of controversy as the nation entered the Civil War, earning him the enmity of several members of the Board of Trustees, including Amos Tuck
Amos Tuck
Amos Tuck was a political figure in New Hampshire, credited by some New Hampshire sources as a founder of the Republican Party.-Early life and education:...
(1835), a founding member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, and close friend of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
. Matters came to a head in 1863 when Lord prevented the granting of an honorary degree to President Lincoln. Ultimately, this resulted in actions by the Trustees that essentially warranted his removal from office. However, Lord tendered his resignation.
He continued to live in as an active member of the Dartmouth College community, in Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover is a town along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2010 census. CNN and Money magazine rated Hanover the sixth best place to live in America in 2011, and the second best in 2007....
, until his death in 1870.