LOW, SETH

(1850-1916), municipal reformer and former Mayor of New York City; 6. Brooklyn, N. Y. Graduating from Columbia in 1870, he entered his j’s. tea and silk importing busine and became a partner in 1875, so remaining till the busine was liquidated in 1888. He became early interested in politics as a Republican. From 1881 to 1885 he was mayor of Brooklyn on an independent ticket, being twice elected. In 1890 he was appointed president of Columbia College, which under his administration was enlarged and developed into the present university. Its Low Memorial Library was built by him at a cost of $1,000,000. He resigned as president of Columbia in 1897 to become independent candidate of New York City, but was defeated. Nominated again in 1901 at the crest of a revolt against the power of Tammany Hall, he was elected on a fusion ticket. Meantime he served as a member of the American delegation at the Hague Peace Conferences of 1899. During his mayoralty he made many reforms in the city’s administration, notably in reduced taxation and the police department, and enlarged the public school system. He was defeated for re-election in 1903 by George B. McClellan. He headed the National Civic Federation from 1907 to his death. The leading American universities, as well as Edinburgh, conferred honorary degrees upon him.