Thomas McCulloch

     Thomas McCulloch was born on 30 January 1796 in Cape Porpus, York County, Maine.^5,4 He was the son of Capt. Hugh McCulloch and Abial Perkins.^3,4 He was baptized on 9 October 1801 in Church of Christ, Arundel, York County, Maine.⁶ He died on 7 September 1817 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at age 21.^7,4
     
     Thomas attended Harvard, and in October of his first year, he wrote home stating that "during the short time which I have spent here, my expectations have been fully answered; we live well in commons, much better than I expected; I think our fare so far has been as good as at boarding houses in general." He did regret, though, that he did not bring his flute, which he had been accustomed to using daily. He requested that it be sent to Cambridge, if possible.

     He died due to an unexplained illness during his senior year. His classmates, in great respect, erected a monument, a marble tablet standing on six sandstone posts in the Unitarian cemetery. It bears the following inscription in Latin, translated into English:

     Here lie the remains of Thomas McCulloch, a student of Harvard University, born in the town of Kennebunk, State of Massachusetts. By nature he was most richly endowed with all the gifts of mind and body which excite our love, delight, and respect; moreover, frank and pleasant in his deportment, he easily won the affection of all before he sought it. He was desirous of honor and fame, but envy did not pollute his bosom, nor did calumny soil his lips. Most studiously devoted to education and learning, he had plucked flowers from the whole domain of literature, and now, after the completion of his third academic year, from the highest pinnacle of literary humor which he had reached by his talent and diligence, he descended alas! to the tomb. For, hurried away by a most painful malady which had brought death to many unfortunate ones, on the 7th day of September, 1817, he breathed most calmly his last. Age 21. The love of his fellow students hath raised this monument, their tears have hallowed it.

     Years later, when Hugh was giving a series of lectures at Harvard, he was asked by Oliver Wendel Holmes, who was in attendance, if he was related to the Thomas McCulloch, who had died there in 1817. When he responded that he was his brother, Dr. Holmes told him that the tomb served as one of his lesson books. His father used to take him there and made him translate the long Latin epitaph, which he had said was the finest bit of Latin in the country. His father was a clergyman, who had visited Thomas every day during his illness.^7,4