David Starr Jordan | |
---|---|
1st Chancellor of Stanford University | |
In office 1913 –1916 | |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | Ray Lyman Wilbur |
1st President of Stanford University | |
In office 1891 –1913 | |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | John C. Branner |
7th President of Indiana University | |
In office 1884 –1891 | |
Preceded by | Lemuel Moss |
Succeeded by | John Merle Coulter |
Personal details | |
Born | Wyoming County, New York, U.S. | January 19, 1851
Died | September 19, 1931 Stanford, California, U.S. | (aged 80)
Spouses | Susan Bowen
(m. 1875; died 1885)Jessie Knight (m. 1887) |
Children | 6, including Edith |
Alma mater | |
Profession | Ichthyologist, University President |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Ichthyology |
Institutions | |
Academic advisors | Andrew Dickson White |
Doctoral students | Charles Henry Gilbert |
Other notable students | |
Author abbrev. (zoology) | Jordan |
David Starr Jordan (January 19, 1851 – September 19, 1931) was the founding president of Stanford University, serving from 1891 to 1913. He was an ichthyologist during his research career. Prior to serving as president of Stanford University, he served as president of Indiana University from 1884 to 1891.
Jordan was also a strong supporter of eugenics, and his published views expressed a fear of "race-degeneration", asserting that cattle and human beings are "governed by the same laws of selection". He was an antimilitarist since he believed that war killed off the best members of the gene pool, and he initially opposed American involvement in World War I.[1][2][3]