# Winfield Scott Chaplin

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**Winfield Scott Chaplin** (August 22, 1847 – March 12, 1918) was the chancellor of [Washington University in St. Louis](/source/Washington_University_in_St._Louis) from 1891 until 1907.

## Early life

Winfield Scott Chaplin was born in Maine in 1847 and graduated from [West Point](/source/West_Point) in 1870 as a [second lieutenant](/source/Second_lieutenant) of artillery. After resigning in 1872, Chaplin held a number of academic positions in civil and mechanical engineering; including [Maine State College](/source/Maine_State_College), [Imperial University in Tokyo](/source/University_of_Tokyo), [Harvard University](/source/Harvard_University), and [Union College](/source/Union_College). He served as dean of the [Lawrence Scientific School](/source/Lawrence_Scientific_School) at Harvard for six years before being named Chancellor of [Washington University in St. Louis](/source/Washington_University_in_St._Louis) at age 43.[1]

## Washington University in St. Louis

During his tenure, [Washington University in St. Louis](/source/Washington_University_in_St._Louis) moved from downtown [St. Louis](/source/St._Louis,_Missouri) to the 103-acre (0.42-square kilometre) Hilltop Campus (now known as the [Danforth Campus](/source/Danforth_Campus)) on the western edge of [Forest Park](/source/Forest_Park_(St._Louis,_Missouri)). The St. Louis Medical College joined the University as did [Missouri Dental College](/source/Washington_University_School_of_Dental_Medicine). The University awarded its first Ph.D. during Chaplin's administration. He brought key figures onto the board of directors who would have lasting influence on the University, most notably [Samuel Cupples](/source/Samuel_Cupples), [Adolphus Busch](/source/Adolphus_Busch), and [Robert S. Brookings](/source/Robert_S._Brookings).

## Later years

After 16 years at the University, Chaplin moved to the southwest to lead the [American Rio Grande Land and Irrigation Company](/source/American_Rio_Grande_Land_and_Irrigation_Company). He later moved to [San Antonio, Texas](/source/San_Antonio,_Texas), where he served as president of the [Academy of Science](/source/Academy_of_Science). He returned to St. Louis in 1917 and died the following year.

## Honors

Following his years as Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Tokyo, he was awarded the [Imperial Order of Meiji](/source/Imperial_Order_of_Meiji) in 1882.[2]

## References

1. ["Prof. Chaplin's New Post; He will be Chancellor of the Washington University"](https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B06EFDD1339E033A25753C3A96E9C94609ED7CF), *New York Times,* August 30, 1891.

1. [Rossiter, Johnson, ed. (1904) "Chaplin, Winfield Scott"](https://books.google.com/books?id=MlEDAAAAYAAJ&q=imperial+order+of+meiji), *The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans,* Vol. II (*n.b., not paginated*).

- Rossiter, Johnson, ed. (1904). [*The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans*](https://books.google.com/books?id=MlEDAAAAYAAJ&q=imperial+order+of+meiji), Vol. II. Boston: The Biographical Society.

## External links

- [Washington University in St. Louis](http://www.wustl.edu)
- [Biographical entry](http://chancellorsroom.wustl.edu/chaplin.htm) at Washington University in St. Louis
- [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/130703104/winfield-scott-chaplin](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/130703104/winfield-scott-chaplin)

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