Justin Smith Morrill

Justin Smith Morrill was an American politician who served as a United States Representative and Senator from Vermont. He was born on April 14, 1810, and died on December 28, 1898.

Morrill is best known for sponsoring the Morrill Act, also known as the Land-Grant College Act of 1862. This legislation provided federal assistance to states for the establishment of land-grant colleges, which focused on practical education in agriculture, engineering, and other fields.

The Morrill Act of 1862 was a federal law that granted land to each state to establish colleges and universities that focused on agriculture and mechanical arts. The act was sponsored by Justin Smith Morrill and signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln.

A land-grant college is a type of educational institution that was established under the provisions of the Morrill Act of 1862. These colleges were granted federal land and financial assistance to promote education in agricultural and technical fields.

In addition to the Morrill Act, Morrill also sponsored the Tariff Act of 1861, which helped to fund the Union during the American Civil War. He was also involved in the creation of the Smithsonian Institution and served as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.