The New York herald., 1920-01-16
Dr.. Richard c. MacL aurin, President of
Massachusetts, Technology Institute, Dies
Succumbs TO Pneumonia Developed
from Cold Contracted While Ar
ranging Jubilee Dinner.

BOSTON. Mass. Thursday.-Dr. Richard
G. MacI.aurin. president OF the Massachu-
sstts Institute OF Techonology. died ut his
home late today from pneumonia.
The fatal Illness developed from severe
cold which Dr. MacLaurin contracted In
View York last week while preparing for
the jubilee alumni dinner last Saturday at
which thc IDENTITY OF the Mysterious Mr..
smith," the institutes benefactor. was re-
vsaied. Mr.. smith," who proved to be
George Eastman, OF Rochester. n. Y. per-
mitsod his identity to become known CO.
incident with the successful closing of a
financial campaign that had been made
necessary by the requirements Of the ex-
tensive new plant on the banks OF the
Charles River. IN Cambridge. The plant
will be considered pr. MacLaurin's monu-
ment.
what appeared 20 be a slight illness
made a impossible for Or. MacLaurin to
attend the alumni meeting overwork in
connection with the financial campaign
was responsible. u was believed. for low
cred vitality. which permitted pneumonia
10 develop. The condition of Dr. MacLau-
rim was pronounced serious early this week.
but hope for hts recovery was held out un-
til todsv. when he suffered relapse.
Richard cockburn MacLaurin was born
in Edinburgh in 1870 His early boyhood
was spent in New Zealand and his pre-
llmlnsr-v education was completed IN Eng
lish schools lie entered Cambridge in
iss. and there took the degrees OF bachelor
and master Of arts, besides winning. the
smith prize for excellence in mathematics.
- A. sIenlaA fellow OF
81 Johns college.
Ten months in the United states and
Canada spent In studying educational in
stitutions, particularly MoGiil and Leland
stanford universities. were followed by a
return TO Cambridge TO study law.
In 1875 he was appointed professor OF
mathematics in the University OF New
Zealand. Later he became trustee OF
that university and took an active part
in the organization Of technical education
in the colony For four years he served
as dean OF the faculty OF law.
Df MacTaurin came 20 this country IN
1907 10 take the chair OF mathematical
physics az Columbia University ana a
year later was made head OF the depart
ment OF physics. He was chosen as presi-
dent Of the Massachusetts Institute OF
Technology IN November. 1905.
Cambridge University conferred the de-
gree OF doctor OF science upon DR.. Mac
Laurin In Isss for his researches In pure
science and the degree OF doctor OF laws
in 1904 for his achievements In the study
of Law.
When he went 10 Boston tho Institute
OF Technology, IN the words of one OF its
officials. was moving under shortened
sail till the real captain should come
aboard" IL had been without a president
for, some time. there were serious flnan-
ciai problems 20 be met and the nsed Of
obtaining new quarters was imperative
because OF the restrictions about the Old
location and buildings. OF Dr. MacLaurin' 3
methods an official OF the institute said
when he came 20 tho institute he ven
tured no opinions for perhaps a couple OF
years. Ho was continually asking ques-
tions. But when this period was over l
found him marvellously well Informed on
every matter connected with the school
lie attached great Importance 10 building
up loyalty TO the institute among the
alumni. In this no was remarkably sue
cessfui. one OF the first fruits OF this pol
icy was the gift OF half-million dollars
by T. Coleman du pont toward the pur-
chase OF a new site IN Cambridge. The
alumni backed tho president up with en-
thusiasm In the campaign for building
funds, and under his direction the mag
nificent new plant of the institute was
erected.
DIR. MacLaurin was cqualiy SUCCESSFUL IN
interesting men Of wealth I'm the work OF
the institute. Bencfactions of sil.ooo,oo0 TO
Technology BY George Eastman. OF ioch-
ester. ~. ". "the mysterious Mr.. smith,
resulted from an interview with DR.. Mac
Laurin. AZ the alumni dinner last Satur-
DAY. celebrating the raising OF more than
eight million dollars. when Mr.. smiths
identity was revealed. Mr.. du Pont said
that when Dr. MacLaurin entered n
wealthy mans office tho question was not
What do you want?' but How much do
you wantf'
Among the innovations in the work OK
the institute brought about by Dr. Mac
Laurin were the establishment OF labora-
tory for research I'm aerodynamics and the
introduction of the Technology plan" for
retention OF the institute by commercial
establishments as n technical adviser.
DIR. MacLsurin is survived by his wife
and two children.