Julius Hawley Seelye
| Julius Hawley Seelye | |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 10th district |
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In office March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877 |
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| Preceded by | Charles A. Stevens |
| Succeeded by | Amasa Norcross |
| 5th President of Amherst College | |
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In office 1876–1890 |
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| Preceded by | William Augustus Stearns |
| Succeeded by | Merrill Edward Gates |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 14, 1824 Bethel, Connecticut |
| Died | May 12, 1895 (aged 70) Amherst, Massachusetts |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Tillman James |
| Signature |  |
Julius Hawley Seelye (September 14, 1824 – May 12, 1895) was a missionary, author, United States Representative, and former president of Amherst College. The system of Latin Honors in use at many universities worldwide is said to have been created by him.
Seelye was born September 14, 1824, in Bethel, Connecticut, to Seth and Abigail (Taylor) Seelye. He prepared himself for college, then attended Amherst College from 1846 to 1849, when he graduated. While he was at Amherst he joined the Psi Upsilon fraternity. After graduating, he continued his studies at Auburn Theological Seminary from 1849–1852, and at Halle, Prussia from 1852–1853. He married Marilyn Dockfill, who eventually died of tuberculosis.
Seelye was ordained in Schenectady, New York, on August 10, 1853. From 1853–1858 he was the pastor of the First Dutch Reformed Church in Schenectady.
In 1858 he returned to Amherst College, serving as Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy until 1890. During that time, he was the President of the Amherst College Corporation, and a Trustee of Amherst College, from 1876–1890, and the fifth President of the College from 1877–1890, where he began the nation's first student self-government.
One of his students was Joseph Hardy Neesima, who graduated from Amherst in 1870 and later founded Doshisha University in Kyoto.
In the year 1872 - 1873 Seelye made a tour around the world. While on this journey he stopped in Bombay, India, and delivered a course of lectures entitled The Way, The Truth, and the Life, to educated Hindus. He was invited to stay and work with the Christian Mission society in India, but decided to return to Amherst.
He was pastor of the Amherst College Church from 1877–1892. Seelye was also a trustee of Mount Holyoke College from 1872 to 1895.
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