352 ANDREW PRESTON PEABODY. 



that there is a science of ethics or morals. His election may be 

 counted as one evidence in many that the Academy of that day was 

 ready to accept the wider definition. 



For while he was an accurate mathematician who had pushed far 

 his studies in the mathematics, and had proved himself a skilful and 

 successful teacher, it was not as a mathematician that he was chosen 

 into the Academy. The Academy could not have chosen any man 

 in America whose election would more distinctly represent to our 

 whole community its respect for the science of morals. In his work 

 in literature, or in the pulpit, or as a Professor at Harvard, he would 

 have wished to be recognized as one who believed that ethics is the 

 first science which it behooves men to study. And he would have 

 been glad, in whatever way, to have it understood that his business in 

 life, first and last, was, by whatever effort, to make men better than 

 he found them. 



He was born in Beverly, Massachusetts, on the 19 th of March, 

 1811. He entered Harvard College younger than any one else has 

 entered it in this century, and graduated with high honor in the Class 

 of 1826. He then became a tutor of mathematics, occupying a part 

 of his time in studies which should prepare him for the Christian 

 ministry. In 1833 he was ordained at Portsmouth, N. H., as col- 

 league of Dr. Nathan Parker. He survived Dr. Parker, and re- 

 mained at Portsmouth until 1860, when he returned to the Univer- 

 sity, to become Preacher to the University and Plummer Professor. 

 He filled the active duties of this place until 1881, and was then 

 named Emeritus Professor. He resided at Cambridge until his 

 death, strong and well, and constantly called upon for public service 

 in various capacities. When this took place, — the result, as it 

 seemed, of an unfortunate fall, — he seemed as ready for duty as 

 ever, and whoever dealt with him found it impossible to believe 

 that he was so old a man. 



In this long career he was never satisfied with performing what 

 would be technically called the duties of his profession. One of 

 his axioms, which he laid down in quite early life in an address to 

 the divinity students at Cambridge, was this: "Every man should 

 have a vocation and an avocation." His vocation was that of a 

 faithful working minister of a very large congregation. He would 

 choose one and another avocation from time to time, and fulfil all 

 its obligations with vigor and the success which waits on vigor. 



While he was yet at Portsmouth, he assumed, with a confidence 

 which the event justified, the editorial charge of the North Ameri- 



