Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-12-02
PRESIDENT BUCKHAM DEAD.
Head OF University Of Vetmo ont for
Nearly 40 Years.


President M. H. Buckham of the Uni
versty of Vermont, died at / 80 o'clock
Tuesday morning after 10 days illness
with bronchial trouble and complica-
ton of diseases.
Mr.. Buckham was rs years old. He
was born July 4, 1882. in Hinckley,
Leicestershire, England, and was the
son of Rev. James and Margaret BARN
by Buckham. The former was of
Scotch and the latter of English blood.
Matthew Henry Buckham was grad
uated from the University of Vermont
with the degree of bachelor of arts, class
OF 1851. He received the highest honors
of his class, although at that time he was
but 10 years of age.
lie acted as principal of Lenox acad-
envy in Massachusetts for the two years
Immediately following. He came back
to his university the next year, where he
acted as tutor of languages.
President Buckham spent the years
of 1884 and 1856 abroad and on his re-
turn to this country he was made pro-
lessor of Greek at the University of
Vermont. This chair he held until he
was elected to the presidency in 1871,
although from 1856 to 1857 and again
from 1853 to 1871 he acted as professor
of rhetoric and English literature.
President Buckham was Vermont's
eleventh president. The greatest pros
perity and growth of the University has
come during President Buckham's ad-
ministration.
Mr.. Buckham was a member of the
state board of education from 1867 to
1874. In 1876 he served on the board
of examiners at the United States Mill
tary academy at West Point. He had
been for many years president of the
board of directors of the Mary Fletcher
hospital. During his college course he
Joined the Sigma Phi fraternity.
Mr.. Buckham was known as a speaker
on religious, social and educational
themes. Some of the chief subjects of
his essays are The Art of Living To-
gether," mot to Destroy But to Fulfill"
"The Real Bible" "The Economic Sit
uation, 1.-The Very Elect" "Reserve in
Matters of Religion" and a score of
others.
On formal occasions of a public ma
ture President Buckham's services were
much in demand, such as the funerals of |
ex Gov. j. Gregory Smith, Frederick
Billings, Senator j. S. Morrill, and G. G. |
Benedict and the observance last sprin g
of the Tooth anniversary of Senator Nor
rill's birth. Perhaps more than any
other Vermonter of the present day,
President Buckham had the faculty of |
always saying the right thing in the
right way at the right time.
President Buckham received the de-
gree of doctor of divinity from both |
Dartmouth and Hamilton colleges in
1877 In 1900 Middebury college con
ferred upoh him the degree of doctor
of laws. Dartmouth and Wesleyan in
1909 each gave him the same degree,
doctor of laws. His master degree in
al 70 iiC tOOh carly III HIS career at YER
mont
In 1857 Mr.. Buckham married Miss
Elizabeth Wright of Shoreham. They
had five children, of whom James the
eldest, journalist died about three
years ago. John Wright Buckham is
clergyman in Berkely, CAL, Charles Wy.
man is an architect in Salem, Mass, and
a daughter, Mary, is married and resides
in Boston.
After the death OF his first wife Mr..
Buckham married in September, 1897,
Martha G. Tyler, daughter of Rev. DR..
Josiah Tyler, missionary in Africa for
many years and later of st. Johnsbury.
Mr.. Buckham is survived by his second |
wife and one young daughter and by
four of his children by the first marriage. |
President Buckham went to England |
last June to seek relief from a bronchial
affection. The trip was not altogether
successful, although he returned in fair
health and was able to take up his du-
ties as president with the opening of |
college in September.