Eleazar Wheelock

Eleazar Wheelock was a significant American educator and Congregational minister. He is best known for founding Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. Wheelock lived during the 18th century, a time of religious and social change in the American colonies. His work moved from local ministry to the creation of a major institution of higher learning. This transition shaped the educational landscape of New England. His life involved complex relationships with both colonists and Native Americans.

Wheelock was born on April 22, 1711, in Windham, Connecticut. His parents, Ralph and Ruth Wheelock, managed a prosperous 300-acre farm. He came from a family with deep roots in education. His great-grandfather, Ralph Wheelock, was the first teacher of the first free school in the United States. Eleazar attended Yale College, where he graduated in 1733. During his time at Yale, he won the Dean Berkeley Donation for his excellence in classics. He finished his theological studies at Yale and became a licensed preacher in May 1734.

In February 1735, Wheelock became the pastor of the Second Congregational Church in Lebanon Crank, Connecticut. He served this congregation for 34 years. During the 1730s and 1740s, he was also an itinerant preacher. An itinerant preacher is someone who travels to different places to preach. He was a major figure during the Great Awakening. This was a period of religious revival in the Connecticut River Valley. Wheelock acted as a "chief intelligencer," meaning he spread news about these religious movements. He also managed a farm and raised a large family. He had eight children with his wives and two step-children.

Wheelock’s interest in Native American education began with a student named Samson Occom. Occom was a Mohegan man who had converted to Christianity. Wheelock tutored Occom for four years starting in 1743. Occom was a very capable student who learned to read and write in Hebrew. He eventually became a Presbyterian minister and the second Native American to publish writings in English. This success inspired Wheelock to create the Moor's Charity School in Columbia, Connecticut. The school was located on the town green. He intended to teach Native American boys secular and Christian subjects. He wanted them to become missionaries. Girls at the school learned English and "housewifery," which refers to managing a household.

As the school grew, Wheelock’s goals changed. He decided to expand the school to include college-level classes. These classes covered philosophy, literature, and the classics. He wanted to provide education for the sons of American colonists as well. To do this, he sought a formal charter. On December 13, 1769, King George III granted him this charter. However, this change caused conflict. Samson Occom and the British Board of Trustees, led by Lord Dartmouth, opposed the new focus on colonists. Wheelock decided to keep a donation from Lord Dartmouth. He named the new institution Dartmouth College.

Wheelock chose Hanover, New Hampshire, as the site for the college. He became the first president of Dartmouth. The college primarily served the sons of colonists, though some Native Americans attended. In 1771, the college held its first commencement, which is a graduation ceremony. Four students graduated during this first event. This group included Wheelock’s own son, John. Wheelock’s presidency established the foundation for the college's future. He remained active in his work until his death on April 24, 1779, during the Revolutionary War.

Wheelock’s legacy continues through various names and institutions. The town of Wheelock, Vermont, is named after him. During World War II, a Liberty Ship was also named the Wheelock. This was a C-2 cargo ship designed to carry 550 troops. It participated in the Normandy Invasion. His descendants have also been notable. For example, John Wheelock served as the second president of Dartmouth. Other descendants include poets, scientists, and soldiers. His life remains a central part of the history of New England education.