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July 31, 1848 – University of Iowa President (1914-1916) Thomas H. Macbride is born.
Born in Tennessee, Macbride moved to New London, Iowa at 9-years old when his abolitionist minister father alienated his congregation. After a brief stint at Lenox College in Hopkinton, Iowa, Macbride graduated from Monmouth College in Illinois. Shortly thereafter, in 1878, Macbride arrived at the State University of Iowa. Working closely with his good friend, Samuel Calvin, Macbride contributed immensely to knowledge of Iowa’s natural history. In 1914, following the resignation of university president John G. Bowman, the university named Macbride acting president, and soon the ‘acting’ title was dropped. He retired from university service in 1916. The Hall of Natural Science, as well as Lake Macbride State Park near Coralville, were named in his honor following his death in 1934.
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