Henry Coppée | |
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| Born | October 13, 1821 (1821-10-13) |
| Died | March 22, 1895 (1895-03-23) (aged 73) |
| Education | Yale College United States Military Academy University of Georgia (MA) University of Pennsylvania andUnion College (LLD)[1] |
| Occupation(s) | Educator and author |
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Henry Coppée (October 13, 1821 – March 22, 1895) was an American educator and author. He was the first president ofLehigh University.[1]
Coppée, of French and Haitian descent, was born inSavannah, Georgia, and grew up onBryan Street as a neighbor of historianCharles Seton Henry Hardee and his family.[2]
Coppée studied atYale University for two years, and then worked as acivil engineer. He graduated from theUnited States Military Academy inWest Point, New York, in 1845. He completed a Master's degree at theUniversity of Georgia in 1848. He earned his law degree from theUniversity of Pennsylvania andUnion College of New York in 1866.[1]
Coppée served in theMexican–American War as a lieutenant and was brevetted captain for gallantry at the battles ofContreras andChurubusco.[3] During theAmerican Civil War, he edited theUnited States Service Magazine.
He was assistant professor ofFrench at West Point from 1848 to 1849, and then principal assistant professor of geography, history, and ethics from 1850 to 1855.[4]
He resigned from the Army on June 30, 1855.[1]
After resigning from theU.S. Army, he was the professor ofEnglish literature and history at theUniversity of Pennsylvania inPhiladelphia, from 1855 to 1866. In 1856, Coppée was elected to theAmerican Philosophical Society.[5]
He was an officer for theAztec Club of 1847, serving as a vice president from 1885 to 1887; and as president from 1887 to 1888.
In 1866, Coppée was selected byAsa Packer to serve as the first president ofLehigh University inBethlehem, Pennsylvania; he held this position for nine years, until 1875. He also served as the university's presidentpro tempore twice. Following the resignation of Lehigh's second president John M. Leavitt in 1880, he served in this capacity for several months. Later, following the death of Robert A. Lamberton in September 1893, he again served in this capacity until his own death on March 22, 1895.[6][7]
During Coppée's tenure, the university underwent extensive development, including the construction of a number of new buildings and the expansion of the campus. AMoravian church on Packer Avenue was remodeled into Christmas Hall, a house for the president was erected, and Packer Hall, the university center, was built. Coppée lectured in history, logic, rhetoric, political economy, andShakespeare.
Lehigh University's Coppee Hall, built in 1883, was named for him; it was first a gymnasium, later the home of the Department of Arts and Science, and now houses the university's Journalism and Communication Department.
He was a Christian, and compiledSongs of Praise in the Christian Centuries.[1]
Coppée died March 22, 1895 at the age of 73. He was survived by his wife, Julie (nee de Witt), and four daughters and one son.
| Preceded by none | 1st President ofLehigh University 1866–1875 | Succeeded by |
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