Dr. Bowditch’s Residence at the Time of his Death.
DEFENDS THE WEAK.
In the performance of his duties as president of the insurance company, he was faithful and prompt in action. He was frequently placed in circumstances which required great decision of character. At times a disposition was shown to deceive him; at others, a richer stockholder would attempt to gain advantages over a poorer one. I well remember an anecdote in which it is said a purse-proud rich man tried to browbeat Mr. Bowditch into doing an act which Mr. Bowditch thought would be unjust to another poorer one. The nabob pleaded his riches, and amount of his stock in the office, and intimated that he would have his way. “No, sir, you won’t. I stand here in this place to see justice done, and, as long as I am here, I will defend the weak.” He seldom met with difficulties of this kind, for few dared approach him with the intention to be unjust or untrue. Nothing aroused him so much to an almost lion-like fierceness as any appearance of wickedness in the transaction of public business. He had much wisdom, likewise, in the selection of risks, so that the office, while under his control, succeeded admirably and he left it prosperous.
PROFESSORSHIP OF MATHEMATICS.
EXTREME MODESTY.
During his residence in Salem he was often invited to seats of honor and trust. We have already mentioned his political course. In 1806, by the agency of Chief Justice Parsons, then in the corporation of Harvard College, he was appointed professor of mathematics in that university. In 1818 he was requested by President Jefferson, in very flattering terms, to accept of a similar office in the University of Virginia. In 1820, he was called upon by the secretary of war of the United States, to consent to an appointment at the Public Military School at West Point. All of these he refused, as not congenial to his mind. He always declined talking in public. He would teach all who came to him, but he could not deliver a public course of lectures. His extreme modesty prevented. For it will be remembered that he was as remarkable, from his youth, for his modesty, amounting, in early life, to diffidence, as he was for his other qualities. Moreover, it should be stated that, at times, he had a certain hesitation in his mode of speaking, which probably would have prevented him from addressing easily a public audience.
In 1818, he was urged to take charge of an insurance office in Boston, but he preferred living in his native place.