Compared to their present-day counterparts, 18th century candidates for the presidency of Harvard had relatively few qualms about proclaiming their qualifications.

Rev. Cotton Mather 1678, for example, waged an active campaign for the post through two decades. He stoutly maintained that Satan had Taken up lodgings in Harvard. College and would only be driven out with his election as president. The corporation group which made the selection evidently disagreed with. Mather, for it twice bypassed him.

Few candidates for the presidency, however, have been either so confident of so vociferous, and the question, "Who shall be the next president of Harvard?" has always aroused controversy.

In earlier time, ministerial affiliations were essential, but, presumably, extreme conservatism caused Rev. Increase Mather 1656, Cotton's father, to be eased out of the presidency in 1707. After Samuel Willard served as acting President untill 1707, Cotton began his first battle for the job.

Mather Sure of Post

A scholarly and arrogant member of the British Royal Society, Mather seems to have felt sure of election. But Judge John Leveret 1680, (1708-1724) supported by 39 clergymen, was elected becoming Harvard's first non-clerical head.

A Leverett family memoir heralds the appointment in a manner typical of the time: "In the zenith of his fame and popularity . . . Judge 'Leverett was elected to the presidency of Harvard College-the cherished seat of learning of the country and the pride and ornament of New England."

Mather kept his aspirations warm and he once again sought the post when Leverett died in 1724: but once again he was thwarted, and Benjamin Wads worth, 1690, was elected.

Mather's ambition to seat a conservative was continued by the equally conservative and egocentric Rev. Joshua Gee 1717, his successor in the pulpit. Gee and Edward Holyoke, 1705, both sought the post, vacated when Wadsworth died in office in 1737.

Holyoke Elected

The corporation met at the home of Governor Jonathan Belcher 1699 to decide between the two men, and was dead locked, 3 to 3. Then, according to Samuel E. Morison '08 in "Three Centuries of Harvard".

"A conservative guest challenged the soundness of Holyoke's religious principles, but his colleague John Barnard declared him to be as orthodox a Calvinist as any men: yet too much to a gentleman . . . to cram his principles down another man's throat.' 'Then he must be the man,' said the governor, and Holyoke was elected."

Although the criteria for the job of president were broadened, clerical affiliation were still important in the 19th century. That is, until a young MIT chemistry professor. Charles W. Eliot 1853 was elected in 1869.

Althought unpopular with students as an assistant chemistry here, Eliot had attracted the attention of President James W. Walker 1814, for his administrative talents. Walker had Eliot draw up the agenda for corporation meetings and Henry James, in his autobiography of Eliot quotes Walker as having said often at meetings.

Meeting Interrupted