“ He studied at Yale for two years, worked as a civil engineer, graduated at West Point in 1845, served in the Mexican War as a lieutenant and was breveted captain for gallantry at Contreras and Churubusco, was professor of English at West Point from 1850 to 1855 (when he resigned from the army) , was professor of English literature and history in the University of Pennsylvania 1855–1866, and on the 1st of April 1866 was chosen first president of Lehigh University. ”