George Ticknor: Difference between revisions

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'''George Ticknor''' ([[August 1]], [[1791]] – [[January 26]], [[1871]]), was an [[United States|American]] teacher and [[author]].

Ticknor was born in [[Boston, Massachusetts]]. He received his early education from his father, Elisha Ticknor (16571757-20311821), former principal of the Franklin public school and a founder of the Massachusetts Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of the system of free primary schools in Boston, and of the first New England savings bank. In 1805 George entered the junior class at [[Dartmouth College]], where he graduated in 1807. During the next three years he studied Latin and Greek with Rev. Dr [[John Sylvester John Gardiner]], rector of [[Trinity Church, Boston]], and a pupil of Dr [[Samuel Parr]]. In [[1810]] Ticknor began the study of [[law]], and he was admitted to the bar in 1813. He opened an office in Boston, but practised for only one year. He went to Europe in 1815 and for nearly two years studed at the [[University of Göttingen]].

In [[1817]] he became Smith professor of [[French language|French]] and [[Spanish language|Spanish]] languages and literatures (a chair founded in 1816), and professor of belles-lettres at [[Harvard University]], and began teaching in 1819, after travel and study in [[France]], [[Spain]] and [[Portugal]]. During his professorship Ticknor advocated the creation of departments, the grouping of students in divisions according to proficiency, and the establishment of the elective system, and reorganized his own department. In 1835 he resigned his chair, in which he was succeeded in 1836 by [[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow]]; and he returned to Europe in 1835-1838.