Benjamin Wadsworth
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Benjamin Wadsworth (February 28, 1670 – March 16, 1737) was an early American clergyman and educator. He was trained at Harvard College (B.A., 1690; M.A., 1693) and served as president of that academic institution from 1725 until his death.
Wadsworth House
Built in 1726 for the president of Harvard, Benjamin Wadsworth, and his wife, Wadsworth House has had a long and illustrious history. It is the second oldest building at Harvard (the first being Massachusetts Hall), and it is said that General George Washington, with the assistance of Henry Lee (then an officer in the Patriot Forces, and later father to General Robert E. Lee), set up his first headquarters in the house. From there, on July 3, 1775, Washington rode out to the Cambridge Common to take command of the Revolutionary troops. It is also said that the plans to oust King George from Boston took form in Wadsworth Parlor.
In 1849, when Jared Sparks decided to stay in his nearby home, presidents ceased to live in Wadsworth House. After that time, Wadsworth House took in student boarders (including Ralph Waldo Emerson '21) and visiting preachers, among others. Today, the building houses the offices of the University Marshal, Commencement, the University Library, and several professors.
| Academic Offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Leverett |
President of Harvard College 1725–1737 |
Succeeded by Edward Holyoke |
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