ELIOT, Charles William, American col lege president and educator : b. Boston, Mass., 20 March 1834. He was graduated from Har vard in 1853, was tutor in mathematics there 1854-58, and assistant professor of mathematics and chemistry in the Lawrence Scientific School, Harvard, 1858-63. After spending two years in Europe studying chemistry and investigating educational methods he was professor of analytical chemistry in the Massachusetts Insti tute of Technology 1865-69. In the last-named year he became president of Harvard University, which position he resigned in 1909. He is one of the foremost writers and speakers of the day upon educational and social problems and has exerted a strong influence upon the trend of American thought. During his incumbency Harvard College introduced what is commonly known as the elective system—a system since adopted by most American colleges, whereby students no longer must pursue a rigidly pre scribed curriculum, but may chose (within certain groups) any of the subjects taught.
Under President Eliot, too, Harvard's college course could be covered in three years instead of four, thus making it possible to complete both the college and a professional course in six, instead of seven, years. Numerous other educational reforms were advocated by Dr.
Eliot in his long career at Harvard, which have placed him among the greatest American educators and have won great prestige for the university over which he presided. He has published 'Manual of Qualitative Chemical Analysis' (with P. H. Storer) ; of Inorganic Chemistry) (with F. H. Storer) ; 'Five American Contributions to Civilization and Other Essays) • ; 'More Money for the Public SchoOls) (1903)'; 'John Gilley) (1904) ; Happy Life) (1905) ; 'The Road Towards Peace) (1915).