Nott, Eliphalet

Nott, Eliphalet (ĭlĭf`əlĭt), 1773–1866, American educator, inventor, and clergyman, b. Ashford, Conn. In 1804, Nott became president of Union College, a post he held for 62 years; he initiated an extensive building program and introduced a scientific course as an alternative to the traditional classical curriculum. He published a number of pamphlets on slavery, temperance, and education and contributed to science by his experiments with heat. Nott was granted over 30 patents and was the inventor of the first anthracite coal base-burner stove.

Bibliography

See C. Hislop, Eliphalet Nott (1971); G. P. Schmidt, The Old Time College President (1930).

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Nott, Eliphalet (1773–1866) college president; born in Ashford, Conn. He was a nationally famous Presbyterian preacher in Albany, N.Y., before beginning an extraordinary career as president of Union College, Schenectady (1804–66). He restored the college's financial viability through state lotteries, established engineering and medical schools, and brought Union a reputation for intellectual quality.