Atherton, George Washington

Atherton, George Washington

(1837–1906) land grant lobbyist, college president; born in Boxford, Mass. As president of Pennsylvania State College (later University) (1882–1906) he regenerated a virtually moribund institution. A champion of land-grant colleges, Atherton was instrumental in drafting the Hatch (1887) and Second Morrill (1890) Acts, which established their funding and agricultural research base.