It is no disparagement of his
predecessor to say that for some years the affairs of the University had
been allowed to take their course with little aggressive action; his
period for vigorous measures had passed. There was much therefore that
needed to be set in order in the academic establishment and to this the
new executive set himself immediately.

President Hutchins is the first graduate of the University to become its
President, for he received his degree in 1871 at the same time Dr.
Angell delivered his inaugural address. He was born at Lisbon, New
Hampshire, April 8, 1847, and came to Michigan in 1867, the year he
entered the University. After his graduation he was for one year
Superintendent of the Schools of Owosso, Michigan, after which he
returned to the University as instructor in history and rhetoric,
becoming Assistant Professor in 1873, a position he held for three
years. In the meantime, however, he had been preparing himself for the
practice of the law and in 1876 resigned his academic duties to enter
active practice in Mt. Clemens. He was recalled to the University in
1884 as Jay Professor of Law, a position which he held so ably that when
the trustees of Cornell University were looking for a man to organize a
law department four years later their choice fell upon him. This work he
undertook and completed with great success, remaining Dean of the
Cornell Law School for seven years. In 1895 he was once more recalled to
his alma mater as Dean of the Department of Law, a position he resigned
to become the fourth President of the University.

For this task he was peculiarly fitted, not only through his previous
executive experience and his intimate knowledge of the University, but
also by those qualifications which had made him so long a leader in the
Faculties of the University. An unusually dignified presence and
somewhat judicial manner only conceal a rare simplicity, directness, and
kindliness revealed to every one with whom he comes into personal
contact. He has the rare qualification of a real and sincere interest in
the affairs of those with whom he is dealing, and the kindly sympathy,
invariably shown toward every one with whom the wide range of his duties
brings him into contact, inspires universal respect and affection, even
from those who have on occasion disagreed with his policies. Moreover,
he is always ready to listen with open mind on any subject, willing to
be convinced, and what is more