Fine, Henry B. (Henry Burchard), 1858-1928

Henry Burchard Fine (Princeton Class of 1880), the first and only dean of the departments of science, was one of the men who did most to help Princeton develop from a college into a university. He served as an editor of the PRINCETONIAN, where he began a life-long friendship with Woodrow Wilson (Princeton Class of 1879). After Woodrow Wilson returned to Princeton as professor of jurisprudence in 1890, he and Fine resumed the close friendship they had begun in college days. In 1903, shortly after he became president of the University, Wilson appointed Fine dean of the faculty of science. After his election as president of the United States, Wilson urged Fine to accept appointment as ambassador to Germany and later as a member of the Federal Reserve Board, but Fine declined both appointments, saying that he preferred to remain at Princeton as a professor of mathematics.

From the description of Henry B. Fine collection of Woodrow Wilson, 1902-1917. (Peking University Library). WorldCat record id: 63052133

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