Marion LeRoy Burton

Marion LeRoy Burton (August 30, 1874 – February 18, 1925)^[1] was the second president of Smith College, serving from 1910 to 1917. He left Smith to become president of the University of Minnesota from 1917 to 1920.

In that year, he became fifth president of the University of Michigan. He was the youngest man to hold the presidency at The University Of Michigan. He oversaw the construction of buildings on campus, earning Him the nickname "Burton the builder." Burton served until his death at age 50 from angina in February, 1925, following a heart attack in the fall of 1924.

While, the president of the University of Michigan he invited Robert Frost to be a Poet-in-Residence.

He was also a Congregational preacher in New York City.

Burton made the 1924 nominating speech for Calvin Coolidge for president at the National Republican Convention.

In addition to the Burton Memorial Tower on the University of Michigan campus, Burton Hall at the University of Minnesota,and Burton Hall at Smith College, there is a school, Marion L. Burton Elementary School, named after him in Huntington Woods, Michigan.

References

• University of Minnesota Office of the President
• Presidents of the University of Michigan
• Former UM President Marion LeRoy Burton, Ann Arbor District Library local history collection.