# Julius Hawley Seelye

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American politician

Julius Hawley Seelye Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 10th district In office March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877 Preceded by Charles A. Stevens Succeeded by Amasa Norcross 5th President of Amherst College In office 1876–1890 Preceded by William Augustus Stearns Succeeded by Merrill Edward Gates Personal details Born September 14, 1824 Bethel, Connecticut Died May 12, 1895(1895-05-12) (aged 70) Amherst, Massachusetts Party Independent Spouse Elizabeth Tillman James Signature

**Julius Hawley Seelye** (September 14, 1824 – May 12, 1895) was a [missionary](/source/Missionary), author, [United States representative](/source/United_States_representative), and former president of [Amherst College](/source/Amherst_College). The system of [Latin honors](/source/Latin_honors) in use at many universities worldwide is said to have been created by him.

## Biography

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Seelye was born September 14, 1824, in [Bethel, Connecticut](/source/Bethel%2C_Connecticut), to Seth and Abigail (Taylor) Seelye.[1]

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](/source/Psi_Upsilon) fraternity. After graduating, he continued his studies at [Auburn Theological Seminary](/source/Auburn_Theological_Seminary) from 1849 to 1852, and at [Halle](/source/University_of_Halle), [Prussia](/source/Kingdom_of_Prussia), from 1852 to 1853. He married Marilyn Dockfill, who eventually died of tuberculosis.

Seelye was ordained in [Schenectady, New York](/source/Schenectady%2C_New_York), on August 10, 1853. From 1853 to 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 to 1890, and the fifth president of the college from 1877 to 1890, where he began the nation's first student self-government.[2]

One of his students was [Joseph Hardy Neesima](/source/Joseph_Hardy_Neesima), who graduated from Amherst in 1870 and later founded [Doshisha University](/source/Doshisha_University) in Kyoto.

In 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 to 1892. Seelye was also a trustee of [Mount Holyoke College](/source/Mount_Holyoke_College) from 1872 to 1895.

Seelye was a member of the [44th Congress](/source/44th_Congress), from 1875 to 1877. By far the larger number of his speeches were upon various questions connected with the treatment of the Indian tribes, according to the principles of Christian philanthropy. He chose not to run for reelection to Congress because he had been named president of Amherst College in 1876.

He retired from the presidency in 1890, due to failing health, and died on May 12, 1895, at his home in [Amherst, Massachusetts](/source/Amherst%2C_Massachusetts). He is buried in [Wildwood Cemetery in Amherst](/source/Wildwood_Cemetery%2C_Amherst%2C_Massachusetts).[3]

## Other activities

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- Seelye lectured at [Andover Theological Seminary](/source/Andover_Theological_Seminary) from 1873 to 1874. He was then a member of the Board of Visitors there from 1874 to 1892.

- Seelye was on the Massachusetts Commission on Taxation from 1874 to 1875.

- Seelye incorporated the [Clarke Institute for Deaf Mutes](/source/Clarke_School_for_the_Deaf) in [Northampton, Massachusetts](/source/Northampton%2C_Massachusetts), from 1867 to 1887.

- Seelye was a corporate member of the [American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions](/source/American_Board_of_Commissioners_for_Foreign_Missions) from 1876 to 1895.

- Seelye was president of the [Congregational Home Missionary Society](/source/Congregational_Home_Missionary_Society) from 1885 to 1892.

- Seelye received a [Doctor of Divinity](/source/Doctor_of_Divinity) degree from [Union](/source/Union_College) in 1862.

- Seelye received a [Doctor of Laws](/source/Doctor_of_Laws) degree from [Columbia](/source/Columbia_University) in 1876.

## Family

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On October 26, 1854, Seelye married Elizabeth Tillman James of [Albany, New York](/source/Albany%2C_New_York), who was born in 1833 and died in 1881. They had four children: William James Seelye, born in 1857, graduated from Amherst College in 1879, married Mary A. Clarke of Iowa City in 1886, and died in 1931; Elizabeth James Seelye, who was born in 1862, married James Wilson Bixler, an Amherst graduate, in 1891, and who died in 1894; Anna Hawley Seelye, who was born in 1866, married [Benjamin Kendall Emerson](/source/Benjamin_Kendall_Emerson), an Amherst College professor, in 1901; and Mabel Seelye, who was born in 1870, married James Bixler in 1898; and died in 1919.

Seelye is the brother of [Laurenus Clark Seelye](/source/Laurenus_Clark_Seelye), first president of [Smith College](/source/Smith_College). He is the grandfather of [J. Seelye Bixler](/source/J._Seelye_Bixler), 16th president of [Colby College](/source/Colby_College), and of Elizabeth Seelye Bixler, third dean of the [Yale School of Nursing](/source/Yale_School_of_Nursing). He is the great-grandfather of Former United States Ambassador [Talcott Seelye](/source/Talcott_Williams_Seelye) and is the great-great-grandfather of [National Public Radio](/source/National_Public_Radio) reporter [Kate Seelye](/source/Kate_Seelye).

## Works

- Seelye, Julius Hawley (1873). *The Way, the Truth, and the Life. Lectures to Educated Hindoos*. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [6203533](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/6203533).

- Seelye, Julius Hawley (1875). *Christian Missions*. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [18331568](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/18331568).

- Seelye, Julius Hawley (1877). *History of Philosophy in Epitome (translation of [Albert Schwegler](/source/Albert_Schwegler)'s Geschichte der Philosophie im Umriß)*.

- Seelye, Julius Hawley (1877). *The Relations of Learning and Religion*. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [1089883](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/1089883).

- Seelye, Julius Hawley (1880). *The Sabbath Question*. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [56524465](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/56524465).

- Seelye, Julius Hawley (1890). *Our Father's Kingdom*. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [32774539](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/32774539).

- Seelye, Julius Hawley (1891). *Duty. A Book for Schools*. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [2779454](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/2779454).

- Seelye, Julius Hawley (1894). *Citizenship. A Book for Classes in Government and Law*. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [5294712](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/5294712).

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Shook_Hull_2005_p._2188_1-0)** Shook, J.R.; Hull, R.T. (2005). [*Dictionary of Modern American Philosophers*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Ijpj1tB3Qr0C&pg=PA2188). The Dictionary of Modern American Philosophers. Thoemmes. p. 2188. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-84371-037-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84371-037-0). Retrieved September 16, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Bridgwater, William & Kurtz, Seymour, editors (1963) The Columbia Encyclopedia. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 1922.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** The Hartford Courant (May 13, 1895), *JULIUS H. SEELYE DEATH OF EX-PRESIDENT OF AMHERST COLLEGE A Noted Educator and Founder of the "Amherst System" of Student Government -- His Interesting Political Career and Public Services*, Hartford, Conn.: The Hartford Courant, p. 1

## External links

- Quotations related to [Julius Hawley Seelye](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Julius_Hawley_Seelye) at Wikiquote

- [Works by Julius Hawley Seelye](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/41170) at [Project Gutenberg](/source/Project_Gutenberg)

- [Works by or about Julius Hawley Seelye](https://archive.org/search.php?query=%28%28subject%3A%22Seelye%2C%20Julius%20Hawley%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22Seelye%2C%20Julius%20H%2E%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22Seelye%2C%20J%2E%20H%2E%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22Julius%20Hawley%20Seelye%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22Julius%20H%2E%20Seelye%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22J%2E%20H%2E%20Seelye%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22Seelye%2C%20Julius%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22Julius%20Seelye%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Julius%20Hawley%20Seelye%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Julius%20H%2E%20Seelye%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22J%2E%20H%2E%20Seelye%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22J%2E%20Hawley%20Seelye%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Seelye%2C%20Julius%20Hawley%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Seelye%2C%20Julius%20H%2E%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Seelye%2C%20J%2E%20H%2E%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Seelye%2C%20J%2E%20Hawley%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Julius%20Seelye%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Seelye%2C%20Julius%22%20OR%20title%3A%22Julius%20Hawley%20Seelye%22%20OR%20title%3A%22Julius%20H%2E%20Seelye%22%20OR%20title%3A%22J%2E%20H%2E%20Seelye%22%20OR%20title%3A%22Julius%20Seelye%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Julius%20Hawley%20Seelye%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Julius%20H%2E%20Seelye%22%20OR%20description%3A%22J%2E%20H%2E%20Seelye%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Seelye%2C%20Julius%20Hawley%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Seelye%2C%20Julius%20H%2E%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Julius%20Seelye%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Seelye%2C%20Julius%22%29%20OR%20%28%221824-1895%22%20AND%20Seelye%29%29%20AND%20%28-mediatype:software%29) at the [Internet Archive](/source/Internet_Archive)

- [Julius Hawley Seelye (AC 1849) Papers](https://archivesspace.amherst.edu/repositories/2/resources/42) from the Amherst College Archives & Special Collections

U.S. House of Representatives Preceded by Charles A. Stevens Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 10th congressional district 1875–1877 Succeeded by Amasa Norcross Academic offices Preceded by William Augustus Stearns President of Amherst College 1877–1890 Succeeded by Merrill Edward Gates

v t e United States representatives from Massachusetts 1st district F. Ames Dexter Goodhue Holten Sedgwick Skinner Sedgwick J. Bacon Eustis Quincy Ward Jr. Mason Gorham Webster Gorham N. Appleton Gorham A. Lawrence Fletcher A. Lawrence Winthrop N. Appleton Winthrop S. Eliot W. Appleton Scudder T. D. Eliot Hall T. D. Eliot Buffington Crapo R. Davis Randall Wright G. Lawrence Treadway Heselton Conte Olver Neal 2nd district Goodhue Foster W. Lyman Sedgwick Ward Sr. W. Lyman Shepard J. Crowninshield Story Pickman W. Reed Pickering Silsbee Barstow B. Crowninshield Choate Phillips Saltonstall D. King Rantoul Fay Crocker Buffington O. Ames Harris Long E. Morse Gillett Churchill Bowles Kaynor Granfield Clason Furcolo Boland Neal McGovern 3rd district Gerry Bourne Coffin S. Lyman Mattoon Cutler Nelson Livermore White Pickering Nelson Varnum Nelson Osgood Cushing A. Abbott Duncan Edmands Damrell C. Adams Thomas A. Rice Twichell Whiting I Pierce Field B. Dean Field Ranney L. Morse J. Andrew Walker J. R. Thayer R. Hoar C. Washburn J. A. Thayer Wilder Paige F. Foss Casey Philbin Drinan Donohue Early Blute McGovern N. Tsongas Trahan 4th district Sedgwick Dearborn G. Thatcher Wadsworth Foster L. Lincoln Sr. Hastings Varnum W. Richardson Dana Stearns Fuller E. Everett Sa. Hoar Parmenter Thompson Palfrey Thompson Sabine Walley Comins A. Rice Hooper Frost J. Abbott L. Morse Collins O'Neil Apsley Weymouth Tirrell Mitchell Wilder Winslow Stobbs P. Holmes Donohue Drinan Frank Kennedy III Auchincloss 5th district Partridge Bourne Freeman L. Williams T. Dwight Ely Mills Lathrop Sibley J. Davis L. Lincoln Jr. Hudson C. Allen W. Appleton Burlingame W. Appleton Hooper Alley Butler Gooch Banks Bowman L. Morse Hayden Banks Sh. Hoar Stevens Knox B. Ames J. Rogers E. Rogers B. Morse Cronin P. Tsongas Shannon Atkins Meehan N. Tsongas Markey Clark 6th district G. Thatcher Leonard J. Reed Sr. J. Smith Taggart S. Allen Locke Kendall Grennell Alvord Baker Ashmun G. Davis Upham T. Davis Alley Gooch Banks Butler Thompson Loring Stone Lovering Lodge Cogswell Moody Gardner Lufkin A.P. Andrew G. Bates W. Bates Harrington Mavroules Torkildsen Tierney Moulton 7th district Leonard Ward Sr. Leonard Bullock Bishop Mitchell Barker Baylies Turner Baylies Hulbert Shaw H. Dwight S. Allen Grennell Briggs J. Rockwell Goodrich Banks Gooch Boutwell Brooks Esty E. Hoar Tarbox Butler W. Russell Stone Cogswell W. Everett Barrett Roberts Phelan Maloney W. Connery L. Connery Lane Macdonald Markey Capuano Pressley 8th district Grout G. Thatcher F. Ames Otis Eustis L. Williams Green Gardner Green J. Reed Jr. Baylies Sampson Hobart Lathrop Bates Calhoun J. Adams Mann Wentworth Knapp Train Baldwin G. Hoar J. M. S. Williams Warren Claflin Candler W Russell C. H. Allen Greenhalge Stevens McCall Deitrick Dallinger H. Thayer Dallinger Healey Goodwin Macdonald O'Neill Kennedy II Capuano Lynch 9th district Varnum Bishop J. Dean Wheaton J. Reed Jr. Folger J. Reed Jr. H. Dwight Briggs Jackson Hastings H. Williams Hale Fowler Little De Witt E. Thayer Bailey A. Walker W. Washburn Crocker G. Hoar W. Rice T. Lyman Ely Burnett Candler G. Williams O'Neil Fitzgerald Conry Keliher Murray Roberts Fuller Underhill Luce R. Russell Luce T. H. Eliot Gifford Nicholson Keith McCormack Hicks Moakley Lynch Keating 10th district Goodhue Sewall Read Hastings Upham J. Allen Brigham Wheaton Morton F Baylies Bailey H. A. S. Dearborn W. Baylies Borden H. Williams Borden Burnell Grinnell Scudder Dickinson Chaffee Delano Dawes Crocker Stevens Seelye Norcross W. Rice J. E. Russell J. Walker McEttrick Atwood Barrows Naphen McNary O'Connell Curley Murray Tague Fitzgerald Tague Douglass Tinkham Herter Curtis Martin Heckler Studds Delahunt Keating 11th district Bradbury Bartlett Cutler Stedman A. Bigelow Brigham B. Adams J. Russell Hobart J. Richardson J. Adams J. Reed Jr. Burnell Goodrich Trafton Dawes Chapin Robinson Whiting II Wallace Coolidge Draper Sprague Powers Sullivan Peters Tinkham Douglass Higgins Flaherty Curley Kennedy O'Neill Burke Donnelly 12th district H. Dearborn I. Parker Lee S. Thatcher Skinner Larned Bidwell Bacon Dewey Hulbert Strong Kendall L. Bigelow Baylies Hodges J. Adams Robinson F. Rockwell Crosby E. Morse Lovering Powers Weeks Curley Gallivan McCormack Keith Studds 13th district Wadsworth Seaver Ruggles Dowse Eustis J. Reed Jr. Randall Simpkins Greene Weeks Mitchell Carter Luce Wigglesworth Burke 14th district G. Thatcher Cutts C. King J. Holmes Lovering E. Foss Harris Gilmore Olney Frothingham Wigglesworth Martin 15th district Wadsworth Ilsley Whitman Widgery Bradbury Whitman Greene Leach Martin Gifford 16th district S. Thatcher Cook Tallman S. Davis Brown Orr Hill Thacher Walsh Gifford 17th district Bruce Chandler Gannett F. Carr Wood J. Carr Wilson Kinsley 18th district Wilson T. Rice J. Parker 19th district J. Parker Conner Gage Cushman 20th district Hubbard Parris E. Lincoln At-large Cobb

v t e Presidents of Amherst College Moore (1821–1823) Humphrey (1823–1845) Hitchcock (1845–1854) Stearns (1854–1876) Seelye (1876–1890) Gates (1890–1899) Harris (1899–1912) Meiklejohn (1912–1924) Olds (1924–1927) Pease (1927–1932) King (1932–1946) Cole (1946–1960) Plimpton (1960–1971) Ward (1971–1979) Gibbs (1979–1983) G. Armour Craig (1983–1984) (acting) Pouncey (1984–1994) Gerety (1994–2003) Marx (2003–2011) Martin (2011–2022) Elliott (2022–)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF FAST WorldCat National United States Japan Netherlands Israel Academics CiNii People US Congress Other Open Library SNAC Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Julius Hawley Seelye](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Hawley_Seelye) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Hawley_Seelye?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.