After receiving Harvard degrees, Edward Everett became, in 1814, the minister of Boston’s distinguished Brattle Street Church. In 1815, however, he accepted Harvard’s offer to become the Eliot Professor of Greek Literature. Harvard provided funds for him to study at Göttingen University where, in 1817, he was the first American to receive a Ph.D.

In addition to teaching, he edited The North American Review of literature. Everett was Emerson’s teacher and model of eloquence.

He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, then was the governor of Massachusetts and U.S. Secretary of State before becoming the president of Harvard for three years. After serving in the U.S. Senate, he toured the land as a famous orator celebrating America, especially George Washington.

After delivering an address at the dedication of the cemetery at Gettysburg before Abraham Lincoln spoke, Dr. Everett wrote to the president, “I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion in two hours as you did in two minutes.”

From the Executive Mansion came this reply: “Honorable Edward Everett. My dear Sir: I am pleased to know that, in your judgment, the little I did say was not entirely a failure. Of course, I knew Mr. Everett would not fail. Our sick boy, for whom you kindly inquire, we hope is past the worst. Your obedient Servant, A. Lincoln.”