John Howard Raymond

John Howard Raymond (March 7, 1814 – August 14, 1878) was an American educator. He was the first president of the Polytechnic Institute of New York University, and, as president and professor, also lent his hand to organizing Vassar College in its early years.

Biography He was born on March 7, 1814, in Manhattan, New York City.

He was a student at Columbia, which he entered at age 14. As a student at Columbia, he was top ranked for some time, but his performance eventually became such that he was expelled. During his ten years as a professor there, he enjoyed a constantly growing reputation as a teacher and orator. In 1850 he accepted the professorship of belles-lettres in the newly established University of Rochester.

In 1856 he was selected to organize the Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute in Brooklyn, and accomplished the task with great success. He joined the first board of trustees for Vassar College of Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1861, and was raised to the presidency there in 1865 to again apply his organizational skills. He was also professor of mental and moral philosophy at Vassar. His varied gifts and accomplishments found scope for their highest exercise in these roles. He had accepted the presidency at Vassar despite his recent resignation from the Polytechnic presidency due to health concerns.

He died on August 14, 1878, in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Legacy Though an able and eloquent preacher, ministering regularly as chaplain of the college, he was never ordained. His published works were confined to pamphlets and sermons. He received the honorary degree of LL. D. His Life and Letters were published in New York in 1880.

Family His nephew Rossiter Worthington Raymond was a noted mining engineer and writer.