Lehigh’s first president was also a civil engineer, a war hero, and an English professor.

Henry Coppee spent two years at Yale before working as a civil engineer and eventually graduating from West Point. He served as a lieutenant and was brevetted captain for gallantry in the Mexican-American War. After resigning from the army, Coppee taught English at West Point. He then taught English literature and history at the University of Pennsylvania until Asa Packer named him the first president of Lehigh in 1866.

Coppee’s tenure (1866-1875) was a time of great growth: a Moravian church on Packer Avenue was remodeled into Christmas Hall; a house for the president was erected; and Packer Hall, the university center, was built. Coppee Hall, Lehigh’s first gymnasium, was named for him. The building later housed the Department of Arts and Sciences and today is home to the Journalism and Communication program.