author
William De Witt Hyde
1858–1917
A longtime college president and popular moral philosopher, he helped shape Bowdoin College over more than three decades while also writing books that aimed to make ethics practical and everyday. His work blends teaching, religion, and philosophy in a way that still feels direct and approachable.
2 Audiobooks
The Five Great Philosophies of Life
by William De Witt Hyde
Practical Ethics
by William De Witt Hyde
About the author
Born in Winchendon, Massachusetts, on September 23, 1858, William De Witt Hyde became one of Bowdoin College’s most influential leaders. He studied at Harvard, continued theological training at Union Theological Seminary and Andover Theological Seminary, and in 1885 became Bowdoin’s seventh president.
Hyde led the college for thirty-two years, serving until his death in Brunswick, Maine, on June 29, 1917. Alongside his presidency, he taught mental and moral philosophy and became known for a style of leadership that connected academic life with character, service, and civic responsibility.
He also wrote widely on ethics, religion, and the art of living, producing books that brought philosophical ideas to general readers in clear language. That mix of educator, minister, and public thinker helps explain why his work continued to reach readers well beyond the campus he led.