The fourth president of Amherst College, Rev. William Augustus Stearns,[251] in his inaugural address (November 22, 1854) and his annual reports to the trustees urged impressively, again and again, the adoption of measures designed to protect the health of students. “Physical education is not the leading business of college life,” he said in 1854, “though were I able ... to plan an educational system anew, I would seriously consider the expediency of introducing regular drills in gymnastic and calisthenic exercises.” And in 1859 he states his belief that “if a moderate amount of physical exercise could be secured to every student daily, I have a deep conviction ... that not only would lives and health be preserved, but animation and cheerfulness, and a higher order of efficient study and intellectual life would be secured.” At their meeting in August of 1859 the trustees took steps to carry out at once the president’s wishes. Work on the new building was begun in the fall of that year, and the next summer “Barrett Gymnasium” was completed.[252] The name commemorates a liberal donor, Dr. Benjamin Barrett, of Northampton, who had been a near neighbor of the Round Hill School throughout its entire life history. August 6, 1860, following still the lead of the president, the trustees voted to establish a department of hygiene and physical education, the head of which should be a thoroughly educated physician, and the equal of any other member of the college faculty. “It is distinctly understood that _the health of the students_ shall at all times be an object of his special watch, care, and counsel.” John Worthington Hooker (1833-1863), a graduate of Yale College and Medical School (1854 and 1857), was appointed to the position at once; but failing health led to his resignation within a year, and by the action of the trustees on August 8, 1861, Dr. Edward Hitchcock[253] was called from Williston Seminary to take the place thus left vacant. His connection with the department continued without interruption for only a few months less than fifty years, until his death on February 16, 1911. [Illustration: FIG. 75.—Edward Hitchcock (1828-1911). (From a photograph taken in 1867.)]