George Thacher

George Thacher (July 25, 1817 – December 27, 1878) was the fifth President of the University of Iowa, serving from 1871 to 1877.

Early life George Thacher was born on July 25, 1817, in Hartford, Connecticut, to Anne (née Parks) and Peter Thacher. He graduated from Yale College in 1840. He studied for three years in the Yale Divinity School.

Career Thacher began preaching in June 1843 in the Congregational Church in Derby and was ordained paster on January 4, 1844. He moved to the Congregational Church in Nantucket, Massachusetts, and preached there from November 14, 1848, to May 14, 1850. He was then pastor at Allen Street Presbyterian Church in New York City from May 26, 1850, to October 9, 1854. He left the presidency due to poor health. He then preached at the Congregational Church in Iowa City. He resigned due to health in March 1878.

Personal life Thacher married Sarah M. Smith, daughter of reverend Noah Smith, of South Britain, Connecticut, in April 1844. They had two children. She died in 1850. He married her sister Mary S. Smith on August 27, 1851. They had one child. He was the brother of Yale administrator and professor Thomas Anthony Thacher.

Thacher died from a disease of the brain and heart on December 27, 1878, at his home on Asylum Avenue and Gillette Street in Hartford.

Awards In 1871, he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity by both Knox College and by Iowa College.