fessor Chaffee was descended from Capt. Benjamin Church, the hero of King Philip’s 
war. 
He received his early education in public and private schools at Providence, R. I., 
and entered Brown University in the class of 1883. In 1882, while still in his senior 
year there, he was appointed principal of one of the grammar schools of East Providence 
and established the first high-school course instituted there, maintaining meanwhile 
his standing at the university and receiving his degree in due course. Later, for a time, 
he followed advanced work in mathematics and physics at the University of Berlin, 
Germany, and at Johns Hopkins University. His subsequent service as an educator 
was varied and responsible—as principal of high schools or superintendent of schools 
at several places in New England, including Providence, R. I., and Stratford, Conn. 
In 1895 he was appointed professor of mathematics at Webb’s Academy. The work 
which confronted him there gave wide scope for the thoroughness which was his domi- 
nating characteristic. In accordance with the directions of the founder, William H. 
Webb, instruction was limited to the sciences of naval architecture and marine engineer- 
ing, with only such preparatory studies in mathematics and mechanics as were required 
for these sciences. Therefore, Mr. Webb appointed originally but three instructors— 
in mathematics, naval architecture, and engineering. During the years since then, this 
faculty has grown to seven members, and the course has been lengthened to four years. 
While the limitation as to the subjects taught prevented the academy from becoming 
of collegiate grade in the State of New York, this limitation had its compensation in 
the fact that, in a course four years long, these subjects could be handled with a com- 
pleteness of detail which is not possible in the usual college curriculum. This thor- 
oughness, although it involved much labor, gave Professor Chaffee keen pleasure. On 
the foundations, broad and deep, which he laid in fundamental branches, his colleagues 
were able to build with surety and success. 
His marked executive ability led, in 1901, to his appointment, in addition to his 
professorial duties, to the post of resident manager of the entire institution established 
by Mr. Webb. The very considerable responsibility involved in this position is shown 
by the fact that the Webb Foundation is dual in its purpose—both as an academy for 
training young men and as a home for retired shipbuilders. As an executive in this 
work, Professor Chaffee was a man of force, swift in decision and action, and rigidly 
conscientious. 
He was active in civic duties, serving as president of the Board of Trustees of the 
Union Hospital, Borough of the Bronx; as a member of the Bronx Board of Trade; as 
a member, and at one time president of the local School Board; and as a member of the 
Mayor’s Committee during the administration of John Purroy Mitchel. 
Summoned in the full tide of manhood, when seemingly there lay before him many 
fruitful and honored years, Professor Chaffee has left to his old students and his many 
friends the memory of a life marked by worthy achievement, by sterling character, by 
faithfulness and loyalty in all things. 
