The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Harris, William Torrey

HARRIS, William Torrey, American educator and metaphysician: b. North Killingly, Conn., 10 Sept, 1835; d. Providence, R. I., 5 Nov. 1909. He studied at Yale in the class of 1858, and after teaching in the Saint Louis public schools, 1857–67, was superintendent of the schools of that city 1867-80. While in Saint Louis he founded in 1867 the Journal of Speculative Philosophy. He removed to Concord, Mass., in 1880 and aided in founding the Concord School of Philosophy at which he lectured on metaphysical themes. From 1889 to 1906 he was United States Commissioner of Education. He has edited Appleton's School Reader and Appleton's Educational Series and is the author of ‘Hegel's Logic: a Critical Exposition’ (1890); ‘The Spiritual Sense of Dante's Divina Commedia’ (1891); ‘Introduction to the Study of Philosophy’; ‘Psychologic Foundations of Education.’