William E. Worthen, who graduated from Harvard in the class of 1838, died at his home in New York Friday. He was born in Amesbury, Mass. in 1815.

After graduating from college Mr. Worthen took up civil engineering in which profession he was very successful and highly esteemed. In 1849 he went to New York to become the engineer of the New York and New Haven railroad and in 1854 he was elected vice-president of the road. He was the sanitary engineer of the Metropolitan Board of Health in New York City for many years.

Mr. Worthen was a member of several scientific societies, and in 1887 was the president of the American Society of Civil Engineers.