Chester Dewey (1784-1867) was a Congregational minister, educator, and scientist. He was internationally recognized as a botanist and served as the University's first professor of natural science from 1850 until his death in 1867. For Dewey, education was moral as well as academic, and teaching was an invigorating mission: "I have lived my life with the young, and for them I have labored. By their influence I have felt obliged to keep up with the times in valuable knowledge and benevolent effort, and my life has seemed to be renewed among them." Dewey Hall was dedicated in 1930 as one of the original River Campus buildings.