John Howard Van Amringe (April 3, 1835 – September 10, 1915) was an American educator and mathematician.

Life and career

thumb|right|[[Eastman Johnson's portrait of John Howard Van Amringe, 1900]]

Van Amringe was born in Philadelphia on April 3, 1835. He was a son of William Frederick Van Amringe (1791–1873) and Susan Budd (née Stirling) Van Amringe (1798–1891). Among his siblings was brother, Thomas Budd Van Amringe.

He entered Columbia University in 1856 and graduated from the school with a degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1860. Three years later, he received a Master of Arts, and in 1890, he was made a Doctor of Literature. During 1864 to 1865, he was also a lecturer in the School of Mines. The Memorial was built in 1917 and 1918, and was dedicated on Commencement Day in 1918.

Personal life

thumb|right|The [[John Howard Van Amringe (sculpture)|Van Amringe Memorial (1918) on the Morningside Heights campus of Columbia University]]

Van Amringe was married to Cornelia Bucknor (1838–1914), the daughter of William Goelet Bucknor. Cornelia was the great-granddaughter of Peter Goelet, a wealthy merchant and real estate entrepreneur in New York City. Together, Cornelia and John were the parents of:

  • Emily Van Amringe (1867–1955), who died not marry.
  • Guy Van Amringe (1869–1936), a magistrate of the New York Municipal Court.

Van Amringe died suddenly on September 10, 1915, at the Keeler House in Morristown, New Jersey. After a funeral conducted by the Rev. Dr. William T. Manning (later the 10th Bishop of New York), Rector of Trinity Church (where he was a Vestryman), he was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.

Honors and legacy

Van Amringe received a number of honorary degrees including Ph.D. from the University of the State of New York in 1877 and an LL.D. from Union College in 1895.