Thomas Angell (professor)

Thomas Angell was an American educator, economist, and college president. He is best known for his long and influential tenure as the third president of the University of Michigan, serving from 1871 to 1909.

Born in Scituate, Rhode Island, in 1829, Angell graduated from Brown University in 1849. He subsequently traveled and studied in Europe, primarily in France and Germany. Upon his return to the United States, he taught modern languages at Brown before becoming a professor of rhetoric and oratory, and later president, at the University of Vermont in 1866.

In 1871, Angell accepted the presidency of the University of Michigan, a position he held for almost four decades. During his presidency, the university experienced significant growth and transformation. He oversaw the expansion of the curriculum, the admission of women, and a considerable increase in student enrollment. He championed the principle of state support for higher education and advocated for a broad, liberal education.

Angell also served as a diplomat, representing the United States on several important international commissions, including as Minister to China (1880-1881), where he successfully negotiated a treaty regulating Chinese immigration. He also served on commissions related to fisheries disputes with Great Britain and Canada.

After retiring from the presidency of the University of Michigan in 1909, Angell continued to be active in public life until his death in 1916. He is remembered as a pivotal figure in the history of higher education in the United States, particularly for his contributions to the development of the modern state university. The Angell Hall building on the University of Michigan's campus is named in his honor.