Nicholas Murray Butler Professor, president of Columbia University. Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 1931 Date of Birth: 02.04.1862 Country: USA

1. Biography of Nicholas Murray Butler
2. Contributions to Education
3. Presidency of Columbia University
4. Political Involvement
5. Advocacy for International Peace

Biography of Nicholas Murray Butler

Nicholas Murray Butler was a renowned professor and the president of Columbia University. He was born into a family of textile manufacturers and achieved remarkable success in his studies. In 1882, at the age of 20, he received his bachelor's degree in pedagogy from Columbia College, followed by a master's degree in 1883 and a doctorate in 1884. This allowed him to receive a scholarship for a trip to universities in Paris and Berlin. In the autumn of 1885, he obtained a position in the philosophy department at Columbia College, which later became Columbia University in 1896. This marked the beginning of Butler's 60-year career at Columbia University, where he gained fame as a successful administrator.

Contributions to Education

Butler's teaching philosophy was put into practice when he established the New York College for the Training of Teachers in 1889, which was later renamed the Teachers College and became part of Columbia University. In 1890, Butler became a professor of philosophy, ethics, and psychology at Columbia College. He also founded the "Educational Review" journal and served as its editor for 30 years. Butler wrote extensively on state and local educational systems and was a member of the New Jersey State Board of Education from 1887 to 1895. He played a role in the formation of the College Entrance Examination Board.

Presidency of Columbia University

Butler assumed the role of acting president of Columbia University in 1901 and was officially appointed as president in 1902. Under his leadership, the university achieved phenomenal growth and became a leading institution in the United States. The number of senior students and graduate students significantly increased, and new faculties, such as journalism and dentistry, were introduced. The student population grew from 4,000 to 34,000, resulting in the expansion of the university campus. Butler's efforts also led to higher salaries for professors, making Columbia University an attractive destination for renowned scholars and researchers.

Political Involvement

While advocating for the interests of higher education in the United States, Butler was also actively involved in politics. He first attended the Republican National Convention in 1888 and continued to participate until 1936. Together with Elihu Root, William Howard Taft, and Theodore Roosevelt, Butler shaped the face of the Republican Party in the early 20th century. In 1912, Roosevelt ran as an independent candidate for president, causing a split within the party and ultimately allowing the Democratic candidate, Woodrow Wilson, to win. Butler failed in his attempts to secure Root's nomination for president in 1916, and he himself did not make it to the final list of nominees in 1920 and 1928.

Advocacy for International Peace

Drawing on his unique experience, Butler sought to bridge the worlds of politics and education in the pursuit of global peace through international cooperation. As the chairman of the Lake Mohonk Conference on International Arbitration from 1907 to 1912, he advocated for disarmament and the creation of an international court. He served as the president of the American branch of the Association for International Conciliation, an organization founded by French Nobel Peace Prize laureate Paul d'Estournelles de Constant.

Throughout his career, Butler collaborated with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace for 35 years. In 1910, he convinced Andrew Carnegie to donate $10 million to establish the Carnegie Endowment. Butler led the section of the foundation focused on education and communication. He played a key role in the restoration of European libraries after World War I and the development of cultural connections between nations. Financial support was also provided to professors of international relations in colleges. Butler established the European branch of the foundation in Paris and served as its president from 1925 to 1945.

In 1940, Butler completed his autobiography. He is known for his profound statement, which best captures his life philosophy: "In the world, there are three kinds of people – those who do not know what is happening, those who watch what is happening, and those who make things happen!"

Butler's notable works include "The Family of Nations: Its Need and its Problems," "The Path to Peace: Essays and Addresses on Peace and its Making," "Scholarship and Service: The Policies and Ideals of a National University in a Modern Democracy," and "Across the Busy Years: Recollections and Reflections" (two volumes).