Page:Samuel F. Batchelder - Bits of Harvard History (1924).pdf/76

 sound of this quotation, which rings as true to-day as almost three centuries ago, comment is superfluous.) In clearing himself of this accusation, the young fighting-man became so deeply involved in religious matters that he gave up his brilliant professional prospects and entered Harvard College to study for the ministry. But fortune was against him once more. Scarcely had he graduated, ranking (socially) first in the class of 1645, ere he sickened and died.

We might here interject that, like Oliver, at least two early presidents of Harvard came to their places in the College with an honorable military record behind them. John Leverett (H. C. 1680) took his seat in 1707 fresh from his labors as one of the “joint commissioners for the superior command, conduct, rule, and government of her majesty’s forces on the expedition to Nova Scotia and L’Accadie,” in which he also raised and commanded a company of volunteers. He was at the same time lieutenant of the Ancient and Honorables. He even administered the affairs of the College in a crisp and semi-military manner that proved wonderfully effective: the institution throve and expanded, and the students observed unusual discipline and order. The Reverend Samuel Langdon (H.C. 1740), elected president in 1774, was a chaplain to the Massachusetts forces in the