Cornell College Presidents
The Cornell Presidency
Who was president of Cornell from 1853-1857? No one! The college was initially established as the Iowa Conference Seminary in 1853, a preparatory school which would remain a part of the institution for several years after the shift to collegiate education. During the years 1853-1857, Samuel Fellows served as principal of the institution. He was offered the college presidency in 1857, but declined due to his health. He would later become the second president of the college.