William Mitchel Daily

William Mitchel Daily (1812–February 5, 1877) was an American academic, preacher and theologian. He served as the third president of Indiana University from 1853-1859 and resigned under pressure after accusations of plagiarism, not paying debts, and incompetence. He served a one-year term as the chaplain of the US House of Representatives and also served as a hospital chaplain during the US Civil War. He was also the first president of the Indiana State Teachers Association.

Early life and education

William Daily was born in 1812 in Coshocton, Ohio. Later that year his father moved to a farm in Franklin County and Daily spent his childhood there. He attended the country school, and later attended school in Brookville. At fifteen years of age, he took charge of a school in an adjoining county. Daily was baptized as a baby, grew up in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was preaching by age 16. On July 13, 1858, the eight members of the Board of Trustees met to consider the charges, but were unwilling to do so without proper evidence. Murphy then withdrew the charges, for reasons unknown, and the matter was not resolved. Daily attended the annual Indiana Methodist Conference that fall, but criticism of his behavior continued. He resigned under pressure on January 26, 1859. In the fall of 1859, the Indiana Methodist Conference examined the case of William Daily and decided to expel him. Daily had been the first Methodist to hold an important position at Indiana University.

Late career

In 1862, Abraham Lincoln appointed Daily hospital chaplain at St. Louis, where he remained until the end of the war in 1865. Daily was associated with the Louisiana Conference in 1869, and was appointed in turn to the Baton Rouge district and the Upper Coast district, each for a four-year term. After that, he was appointed to the North New Orleans district but became seriously ill shortly after and died a few days later on February 5, 1877. A few months after his death, his remains were moved to Madison, Indiana.

Education

M.A. from Indiana University Bloomington. Honorary M.A. from Augusta College, Kentucky during the presidency of Bishop Bascom. Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Indiana University in 1851. LL.D. from University of Louisville.