New-York tribune., 1918-11-05
Andrew D. White.
Father of Cornell,
Dies at Ithaca
First President of Univer-
sity Once Ambassador to
Germany and Russia

ITHACA, N. y, Nov. 4-Andrew
Dickson White educator and diplomat,
died to-day at his home here. He
would have been eighty-six years old
Thursday. He returned October 10
from motor trip in New England
and had planned to go South Saturday
but gave up the trip because of ILL
ness. His condition was not regarded
IS serious, however, until last night
Dr.. White was one of the founders
and the first president of Cornell
University, where he accomplished re
forms in educational standards. He
rendered valuable public service for
many years as the representative of
his country in Germany and Russia,
was the author of standard historical
works and was a member of several
commissions to Europe. including the
Peace Commission at The Hague in
1899.
Unable to attend conferences pre-
liminary to The Hague Peace Conven-
tion pianned for 1914, he wrote in
prophetic vein to other delegates as
sembled in New York, February IL,
1914:
III seems perfectly within the pos
sibilities and, indeed, within the
probabilities. that if any power should
begin war in a manner as doubtful ly
regular as that in which Japan began
her war with Russia, the ma ion claim
ing to be aggrieved may easily insist
on being absolved from those poor
restraints at present relied upon and
go to any extremes in using aerial
Navigation as means of projecting
explosives into defenceless cities Of
the enemy and blotting out some of
the greatest achievements of civiiza-
ticn."
CornlI Greatest Work
In his autobiography DR.. White
said that in the founding and main
tanning of Cornell University he
thought he had done his best work.
and. he said. "by the part | have taken
IN that, more than by any other work
Of my life. | hope to be Judged
HIS interest in the establishment of
a new university came largely through
revolt against the conservative sec
tartan Influences and restricted cur
rlculums OF other institutions. The
idea seized him during the Civil War
period, when he was professor Of
history in the University of Michigan
and the idea was q great American
university where any person coulr
Ind instruction in any study" +,
should begin, he said, by taking hold
OF the chief interest of the country
winch is agriculture, and should rise
step by step until it met all the wants
Of the hour. ~ y =
His Early Career
DR.. White was born in Homer, n. Y.
MGvemper I, 1882, the son Of Horace
White, pioneer in Western railroad
building. DR.. White went to Geneva
now Hobart, College, and after yea,
there to Yale, where the De Forest
gold medal was awarded him for hi.
oration on "The Diplomatic History
OF Modem Times" upon his gradua
tlon IN 1883. 1t was only a few months
later that T. H. Seymour, the ther
Democratic Governor of Connecticut
took him to st. Petersburg (Petrograd
as an attache to the American Lega
ton. DR.. White returned TO this coun
Try to become professor of history a
Michigan, where he remained for sever
years.
Recalled to New York in 1868 by The
Geath of his father. DR.. White elected
to remain IN his native state, wher,
/ he became active in Republican noli
tics. He was member of the New
York State Legislature for severa
years, which he devoted to the prep
aration of measures for better common
schools; the organization of the stat,
normal schools and in pushing through
the charter for Cornell University.
Engaged Notable Men
/ In his presidency of Cornell he ais.
assumed the duties of professor o
! history and used his influence success
fully in attracting Goldwin Smith
James Russell Lowell, George William
Curtis, Bayard Taylor and other abl
men to service at Ithaca
AT the call of President Hayes. i,
1879, DIR. White fent as Minister I,
/ Germany. and in 1892 to Russia. on tn
nomination of President Harrison, an,
finally as Ambassador tosGermany OF
the nomination ot President Mckinley