HARPER, William Rainey. New Concord, Ohio 24.7.1856 — Chicago 10.1.1906. U.S. Linguist. Born in an Irish-Scottish family, son of Samuel Harper (1823–1905) and Elizabeth Rainey. A child prodigy who learned many languages, Greek, Latin, Semitic, etc. Studies at Muskingum College (graduated when 14) and Yale (Ph.D. when 18). In Sanskrit Whitney’s student. From 1876 taught at Denison University (in Granville, Ohio). From 1879 taught Hebrew at Baptist Union Theological Seminary in Chicago, from 1886 Professor of Semitic Languages at Yale. In 1891 participated in organizing the University of Chicago, soon its first President. Married 1875 Ella D. Paul (1856–1942), three sons and one daughter. Died of cancer.
Harper was specially interested in Hebrew, but taught many languages, including Sanskrit, at University of Chicago (apparently Sanskrit also at Denison). In Chicago he also founded there the first Egyptological Department in the U.S.A.
Publications: Diss. A Comparative Study of the Prepositions in Latin, Greek, Sanskrit, and Gothic. Manuscript, Yale 1874.
– Wrote on Hebrew, Greek and Latin.
Sources: *Th.W. Goodspeed, W.R.H. Chicago 1928; ancestors.familysearch.org; Wikipedia with photo (many further details, two photos and references in German version).
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