Name Francis March | Children Peyton C. March | |
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Books A thesaurus dictionary, Method of philological study of t, Introduction to Anglo‑Sa, Introduction to Anglo‑Sa, Introduction to Anglo‑Sa | ||
Francis Andrew March (October 25, 1825 – September 9, 1911) was an American polymath, academic, philologist, and lexicographer. He is considered the principal founder of modern comparative linguistics in Anglo-Saxon.
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Life and career
March was born in Millbury, Massachusetts. He graduated from Amherst College in 1845, and received a M.A. degree from Amherst in 1848. After studying law and teaching for three years, he became instructor at Lafayette College. March occupied the chair of English language and comparative philology at Lafayette College, in Easton, Pennsylvania, from 1857 to 1907. It was the first post of its kind. March was one of the first professors to advocate and teach English in colleges and universities.
March applied the methods of studying the Latin and Greek classics towards the study of English literature, and led the way for the first scientific study of the English language.
In addition to English, March also taught French, German, Greek, Latin, botany, "mental philosophy", political economy, the Constitution, and law.
He also served as president of the American Philological Association (1873–1874; 1895–1896), the Spelling Reform Association (after 1876), and the Modern Language Association (1891–1893). He was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1881.
March was the first American superintendent over the volunteer reading program of the Oxford English Dictionary, thus providing valuable support to James Murray in the compilation of this monumental work.
He was the father of historian Francis Andrew March and General Peyton C. March who was chief of staff of the United States Army during the First World War.
Edited Works
Death and legacy
March was the father of General Peyton Conway March, aide to Gen. MacArthur in the Spanish–American War and Army Chief of Staff from May 20, 1918 – June 30, 1921.
March died at Easton, Pennsylvania. A chaired professorship now exists at Lafayette College to honor his achievements in the field of English.
Francis A. March Elementary School, near the Lafayette Campus, is named in his honor.
March Field, on the Lafayette College Campus, is named in honor of his son, Francis Andrew March, Jr.