Clergyman, educator and politician, Julius Hawley Seelye (1824 - 1895) was born in Bethel, CT in 1824. He was educated at Amherst College (Class of 1849) and the Auburn Theological Seminary. He studied philosophy and theology in Halle Germany from 1852 - 1853. Seelye was ordained in Schenectady New York on August 10, 1853, where he served as the Pastor of the 1st Dutch Reform Church until 1858.

Seelye served Amherst College for 32 years as both a member of the faculty and as president. Seelye was appointed Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy in 1858 and filled that position until 1890. During this time, Seelye was a member of the Massachusetts Commission on Taxation (1874- 1875) and a member of the Forty-fourth Congress (1875 - 1877). In 1877 Seelye was appointed president of Amherst College and served in that role until 1890.

During his career at Amherst Seelye led a rich and varied life. He toured the world (1872-1873); lectured on For Missions, Andover Theological Seminary (1873-1874); was Pastor of College Church (1877 - 1892); incorporated Clarke Institute for Deaf Mutes Northampton (1867-1887); was a Trustee of Mt. Holyoke College (1872-1895) and served as a Member of the Board of Visitors for Andover Theological Seminary (1874-1892). Seelye also served as a Corporate Member ABCFM (1876-1895) and as President of the Congregational Home Missionary Society (1885-1892).

Seelye's published works include: The Way, The Truth and The Life; Christian Missions; The Relations of Learning and Religon; Duty: A Book for Schools; and Citizenship: A Book for Classes in Government and Law. In addition he published lectures to educated Hindus; translated Schwegler's History of Philosophy; and revised and edited Hickok's Moral Science and Empirical Psychology.

In 1854, Julius Hawley Seelye married Elizabeth Tillman James. They had four children: Anna (Emerson); Mabel (Bixler); Elizabeth (Bixler); and William.