Life
Nott was the second son (and the youngest of nine children) of Stephen and Deborah (Selden) Nott. He was born at Ashford, Connecticut on June 25, 1773. He earned a degree in 1795 from Rhode Island College, which became Brown University. In 1804 he became president of Union, at the age of 31. He continued as president of Union College until his death. He married the daughter of Rev. Joel Benedict of Plainfield, Connecticut, under whose instruction in early life he pursued his classical and mathematical studies. More than 4,000 students are estimated to have graduated from Union during his tenure. In the early 1830s, after the founding of the Union Triad fraternities, Nott called for the dissolution of all fraternities. He was dissuaded from this by a member of Delta Phi named John Jay Hyde. Nott was also president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute from 1829-1845. He found Union financially embarrassed, but succeeded in placing it on a sound footing. His legacy there is recognized by the imposing Nott Memorial, a centerpiece of the College's campus.
Around 1802 he was called to the Presbyterian Church at Albany, where he took a prominent position as a preacher, and was listened to by large congregations. Among his successful pulpit efforts while at Albany, was a sermon on the death of Alexander Hamilton. An oration condemning the practice of dueling, it was delivered in the wake of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton's passing. On the Death of Hamilton (1804), had profound influence in curtailing the custom and remains recognized to this day as an exemplary period example of the eloqutor's art. In 1805, the College of New Jersey conferred upon him the title of D.D. (Doctor of Divinity), and in 1828 he received the title of LL.D. His publications include collections of sermons, Counsels to Young Men (1810), and Lectures on Temperance (1847).
As a scientist he studied heat and obtaining some thirty or more patents for applications of heat to steam engines, but was best known in his day as the inventor of the first stove for anthracite coal, which was named for him.
He died on January 25, 1866 in Schenectady, New York. Nott Road in Rexford, New York, the location of his farm, is named for him.
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Cover of pamphlet created from 1804 Nott sermon, On the Death of Hamilton
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Opening text of sermon
| Academic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jonathan Maxcy |
President of Union College 1804 – 1866 |
Succeeded by Laurens Perseus Hickok |
| Preceded by John Chester |
President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1829 – 1845 |
Succeeded by Nathan S.S. Beman |
Read more about this topic: Eliphalet Nott
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