T. Jefferson Coolidge '50, an overseer of the University from 1886 to 1897, a famous business executive, and United States Minister to France during President Harrison's administration, died Tuesday evening in his 90th year at his Boston home.

The great-grandson of Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States, Mr. Coolidge was born in Boston on August 26, 1831. He received his secondary school training in Europe and then entered the Sophomore class at the University in 1849, graduating in 1850, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In 1853 he received a Master's degree and in 1902 was conferred an LL.D.

Although his primary interest was always business, he took great interest in the University, giving the Jefferson Physical Laboratory which cost $115,000 and also $50,000 for a chemical laboratory for quantitative analysis in memory of his son, T. Jefferson Coolidge 2nd '84, who died in April, 1912.

Able Business Man

Mr. Coolidge is noted for his remarkable success in conducting great business enterprises. In 1858 he was chosen president of the Boott Manufacturing Company, which owned three large cotton mills in Lawrence. After he had restored the company, which was on the verge of bankruptcy, to a strong financial basis, he went to France for several years, returning to this country to manage the Lawrence Cotton Manufacturing Company. In 1876 he accepted the position of treasurer of the Amoskeag Mills, which he resigned in 1897, when he became interested in railroads.

Later he was president of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company, and the Boston & Lowell railroad. In addition he was a director of the Boston & Maine, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, Kansas, Fort Scatt & Memphis, and several other lines.