George Edgar Vincent (1916)
National Cyclopedia of American Biography
VINCENT, George Edgar, president of the University of Minnesota (1911--), was born at Rockford, Ill., Mar. 21, 1864, son of John Ηeyl (q.v.) and Elizabeth (Dusenbury) Vincent. His father was one of the founders of the Chautauqua Institution, and bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The son attended Pingrey's Academy, Elizabeth, N. J., and was graduated at Yale College in 1885. In 1885-6 he was engaged in newspaper work in New York city. After a journey through Europe and the Orient, in 1886-7, he became literary editor of the Chautauqua press. Since 1888 he has served as vice-president of the Chautauqua system, and he has been principal of instruction since 1898 and president of the Chautauqua Institution since 1907. During 1892-1911 he was a member of the faculty of the University of Chicago. He was fellow in sociology during 1892-4, assistant in 1894-5, instructor in 1895-6, assistant professor during 1896-1900, associate professor during 1900-4, professor during 1904-11, dean of the junior colleges during 1900-7 and dean of the faculties of arts, literature and science during 1907-11. In 1911 he became president of the University of Minnesota. The university, regarded as one of the great educational institutions of the Northwest, now has a total registration of 737 students and comprises a college of science, literature and the arts, a college of engineering and mechanical arts, a college of agriculture, a law school, a medical school, a college of dentistry, a college of pharmacy, a school of chemistry, a school of mines and a college of education. Dr. Vincent is the author of "An Introduction to the Study of Society," with Albion Woodbury Small (1895), and "Social Mind and Education" (1896). The degree of Ph.D. was conferred upon him by the University of Chicago in 1896 and that of LL.D. by the University of Chicago and Yale University in 1911 and by the University of Michigan in 1913. He is a member of the University clubs of New York and Chicago and of various social clubs in Minneapolis and St. Paul. He was married Jan. 8, 1890, to Louise, daughter of Henry W. Palmer, an attorney of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and their children are: Isabel, wife of Paul W. Harper, John Henry and Elizabeth Vincent.
