Eli Todd Tappan

Eli Todd Tappan (1824–1888) was an American educator, mathematician, author, lawyer and newspaper editor who served as president of Kenyon College, among other public distinctions. He was the son of Senator Benjamin Tappan and the father of author Mary Tappan Wright. Family, life and education Tappan was born April 30, 1824, in Steubenville, Ohio, the son of Benjamin Tappan and his second wife Betsy (Lord) Tappan. His education was received in local public schools, through private tutors, and at St. Mary's College in Baltimore, Maryland. Afterwards he studied law with his father and Edwin M. Stanton, who was his father's partner, and in 1846 he was admitted to the bar. He married, February 4, 1851, Lydia McDowell of Steubenville. The couple had two children, Mary and Charles. He died October 23, 1888. Career From 1846 to 1848 Tappan edited the Ohio Press in Columbus, Ohio, a weekly newspaper he founded. He went on to practice law in Steubenville, during which time he served as mayor (1852). He began his career in education in 1857 as a teacher in the public schools and quickly rose to distinction, serving as superintendent, March 1858-June 1859, professor of mathematics at Ohio University, 1859–1860 and 1865–1868, teacher of mathematics at Mount Auburn Young Ladies' Institute, 1860–1865, and president of Kenyon College, 1869-1875. As president he thoroughly revised the curriculum and oversaw completion of the college chapel, the Church of the Holy Spirit. Following his term as president he was Kenyon's professor of mathematics and political economy.