# Cyrus David Foss > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cyrus_David_Foss > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cyrus_David_Foss.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrus_David_Foss > Source revision: 1350604278 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) American Methodist bishop Cyrus David Foss 6th President of Wesleyan University In office 1875–1880 Preceded by Joseph Cummings Succeeded by John Wesley Beach Personal details Born (1834-01-17)January 17, 1834 Kingston, New York Died January 29, 1910(1910-01-29) (aged 76) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Spouses Mary E. Bradley ​ ​ (m. 1856; died 1863)​ Amelia Robertson ​ (m. 1865)​ Relations Charles Franklin Robertson (brother-in-law) Alma mater Wesleyan University Profession Educator Signature **Cyrus David Foss** (January 17, 1834 – January 29, 1910) was a prominent [Methodist](/source/Methodist) [bishop](/source/Bishop) in the latter 19th century, primarily serving in [New York City](/source/New_York_City) and [New England](/source/New_England). ## Biography Foss was born in [Kingston, New York](/source/Kingston%2C_New_York), on January 17, 1834. He attended [Wesleyan University](/source/Wesleyan_University), graduating in 1854. He began his career teaching, and then entered the ministry. Foss was "pastor of the most prominent Methodist churches in this city [New York] and Brooklyn."[1] Foss married Mary E. Bradley in 1856. She died in 1863, and he married [Amelia Robertson](/source/Amelia_Robertson_Foss) in 1865.[2] Foss was elected the sixth President of Wesleyan University in 1875, and he held that post for five years. His term in office was generally prosperous. By all accounts, Foss was a genial and avuncular man.[3] Foss is widely credited for saving the school when it was in a time of financial ruin, following the [Panic of 1873](/source/Panic_of_1873). To raise funds, he created a new program of disciplined Christian living for the students, and met with many prominent Methodist church leaders of New England. This Christian living program lasted until spring 1877.[4] He lived on a hill behind the campus, and "Foss House" was a prominent campus fixture until the late 1950s. It was used to house veterans during and after [World War II](/source/World_War_II). It is now the site of [West College](/source/Wesleyan_University#Campus). The hill is still known as "Foss Hill." Bishop Foss is recognized as a man of superior abilities, an able preacher, and an earnest and devout Christian... He received the degree of D. D. from Wesleyan University in 1870 and that of LL.D. from Cornell College, Iowa, in 1879. He has contributed to current literature, and has published sermons and addresses, including "Songs in the Night," a Thanksgiving sermon, (New York, 1862), and his inaugural address as president of Wesleyan University (1876).[5] In 1880 Foss was consecrated a Methodist bishop.[2] He served as a bishop in Minneapolis and Philadelphia. Later in life, Foss travelled the world extensively for the Methodist Church, and he published an account of his travels as *From the Himalayas to the Equator: Letters, Sketches and Addresses, Giving Some Account of a Tour of India and Malaysia*. After visiting missions in China he became ill, and did not recover his health. Foss died in [Philadelphia](/source/Philadelphia) on January 29, 1910, and was buried in [Pawling, New York](/source/Pawling_(town)%2C_New_York).[1] His papers are kept at Wesleyan and Drew Universities.[2] A biography of Foss was published posthumously. ## See also - [List of bishops of the United Methodist Church](/source/List_of_bishops_of_the_United_Methodist_Church) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nyt_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nyt_1-1) ["Bishop Cyrus D. Foss Dead"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98345924/bishop-cyrus-d-foss-dead/). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. Philadelphia. January 30, 1910. p. 11. Retrieved March 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Drew_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Drew_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Drew_2-2) [Archives.gcah.org](http://archives.gcah.org/eadweb/gcah2385.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110726074943/http://archives.gcah.org/eadweb/gcah2385.pdf) July 26, 2011, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [*Wesley Bicentennial*](https://books.google.com/books?id=MqpBAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA63). Middletown, Connecticut: [Wesleyan University](/source/Wesleyan_University). 1904. pp. 63–65. Retrieved March 25, 2022 – via Google Books. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Google books](https://books.google.com/books?id=LT44l-9k1BgC), Wesleyan University, 1831-1910 Collegiate Enterprise in New England 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Wilson, J. G.](/source/James_Grant_Wilson); [Fiske, J.](/source/John_Fiske_(philosopher)), eds. (1900). "Foss, Cyrus David". *[Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography](/source/Appletons'_Cyclop%C3%A6dia_of_American_Biography)*. Vol. 2. New York: D. Appleton. p. 509. ## External links Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Cyrus David Foss](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Cyrus_David_Foss)***. - ["Foss, Cyrus David"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_New_International_Encyclop%C3%A6dia/Foss,_Cyrus_David). *[New International Encyclopedia](/source/New_International_Encyclopedia)*. 1905. v t e Presidents of Wesleyan University Fisk (1831–1839) Bangs (1841–1842) Olin (1842–1851) Smith (1852–1857) Cummings (1858–1875) Foss (1875–1880) Beach (1880–1887) Raymond (1889–1908) Shanklin (1909–1923) McConaughy (1925–1943) Butterfield (1943–1967) Etherington (1967–1970) Campbell (1970–1988) Chace (1988–1994) Bennet (1995–2007) Roth (2007– ) Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF FAST WorldCat National United States Other Open Library SNAC Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cyrus David Foss](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrus_David_Foss) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrus_David_Foss?action=history)). 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