Alpheus Spring Packard, Sr.

Who was Alpheus Spring Packard, Sr.?

Alpheus Spring Packard, Sr. was an American who may be the longest serving faculty member to any American college through his 65 years of dedication to Bowdoin College, "in this particular I acknowledge, without reserve, my allegiance to Brunswick, Maine.". Trained as a minister, educator, librarian, acting President of Bowdoin College for the year 1883-4 until his death. The father of four sons and one daughter by his first wife: Alpheus Spring Packard, Jr., Bowdoin class of 1861, Civil War surgeon, Entomologist who corresponded with Darwin and a Professor at Brown University with 25 publications, and William Alfred Packard, Bowdoin class of 1851, Charles A. Packard, Bowdoin class of 1848, a 4th son George as well as a daughter, Frances Appleton.

Professor Packard was also the son-in-law of Bowdoin College's second President, the Reverend Jesse Appleton through his first marriage to Frances Appleton. Alpheus Spring Packard married Mrs. C.W. McLellan after his wife's death and produced a fifth son, Robert L. Packard, who graduated from Bowdoin in 1868.