James McNaughton Hester
- April 19, 1924
- December 31, 2014
- 90 years
About James McNaughton Hester
James McNaughton Hester, 90, American academic, President of New York University (1962–1975).
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Full Biography
|James McNaughton Hester (April 19, 1924 – December 31, 2014) was an internationally recognized educator.
Hester was born in Chester, Pennsylvania. He spent his boyhood at various stations to which his father, a United States Navy Chaplain, was assigned, including Hawaii and Samoa. In 1942, he graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California. After joining the United States Marine Corps' officer candidate program, he was trained to be a Japanese-language officer. He subsequently served in Japan in a civilian capacity as the civil information and education officer on the Fukuoka Military Government Team.
Academic career
Hester began his academic career at Princeton University, where he excelled in the humanities, election to Phi Beta Kappa, and earned an A.B. degree. He won honors in the humanities, election to Phi Beta Kappa, and was awarded an A.B. degree in 1945. As a Rhodes Scholar, he crossed the Atlantic to Pembroke College, Oxford, earning a bachelor's degree Philosophy, Politics and Economics in 1947. Hester received a D.Phil. in 1955 from Oxford University.
Upon his return to the United States in 1950, he became assistant to the American Secretary to the Rhodes Trustees.
Military career
Recalled to active duty with the Marines in 1951, Hester served seventeen months as a battalion adjutant and instructor at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Quantico, Virginia. After leaving the services, he spent several months at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., doing research for his doctoral thesis. He received the D. Phil. degree from Oxford University in 1955.
University leadership
After three years of business experience in management consultation and consumer research, Hester returned to academic life. In 1957, he became provost (administrative and academic head) of the Brooklyn Center of Long Island University in New York City and subsequently Vice President of Long Island University. In 1960, he became Dean of both undergraduate and graduate schools of arts and science at New York University. He became 11th President of New York University in 1962, at the age of 37. The University awarded him an honorary degree (L.H.D.) in 1977.
Hester was appointed first Rector of the United Nations University in November 1974 by United Nations Secretary General Kurt Waldheim after a worldwide search. He commenced full-time duty as Rector at the University's headquarters in Tokyo in September 1975.
Hester served as chairman of the President's Task Force on Priorities in Higher Education in the United States (1969). He was also president and a member of the executive committee of the Association of Colleges and Universities of the State of New York, and was president and member of the board of trustees of its Commission on Independent Colleges.
Hester served on the board of the American Council on Education, on the New York State Regents Advisory Council on Higher Education and Regional Co-ordinating Council for Post Secondary Education in New York City. He was the United States member on the Administrative Board of the International Association of Universities and a member of the executive committee of the Association of American Universities.
Retirement
Upon leaving the rectorship, Hester served a term as President of The New York Botanical Garden, and until his death remained President of the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation in New York, an operating foundation charged by its founder to support research on the causes, manifestations and control of violence, aggression, and dominance. This programme is carried out through grants in a wide variety of fields and by conferences and publications.
After retiring from full-time involvement in the academic world, Hester continued a second career as highly regarded artist, whose oil paintings and portraits were commissioned by a wide array of individuals and institutions.
Personal life
Hester was married in 1953 to the former Janet Rodes. They had three children, Janet, Margaret and Martha. He died 31 December 2014 in Princeton, New Jersey.
Honors
Hester held honorary degrees from many leading universities and colleges, and was a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honour. In 1981, H.M. Emperor Showa of Japan conferred upon Hester the Order of the Sacred Treasure, First Class.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_McNaughton_Hester
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
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- September 30, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from James McNaughton Hester's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what city was James McNaughton Hester born?
- A.Chester, Pennsylvaniacorrect
- B.Tokyo, Japan
- C.Princeton, New Jersey
- D.Long Beach, California
The biography states that James McNaughton Hester was born in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Source: biography introduction
2.Which high school did James McNaughton Hester graduate from in 1942?
- A.Long Island High School
- B.Princeton High School
- C.Woodrow Wilson High Schoolcorrect
- D.Fukuoka Secondary School
In 1942, James McNaughton Hester graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California.
Source: biography introduction
3.What subject did James McNaughton Hester study for his bachelor's degree at Oxford University?
- A.Fine Arts and Painting
- B.Marine Science and Geography
- C.Philosophy, Politics and Economicscorrect
- D.History and Humanities
James McNaughton Hester earned a bachelor's degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Pembroke College, Oxford, in 1947.
Source: academic career section
4.What military branch did James McNaughton Hester join for an officer candidate program?
- A.United States Marine Corpscorrect
- B.United States Air Force
- C.United States Navy
- D.United States Army
James McNaughton Hester joined the United States Marine Corps' officer candidate program during his early years.
Source: biography introduction
5.In what year did James McNaughton Hester become the 11th President of New York University?
- A.1962correct
- B.1960
- C.1955
- D.1957
James McNaughton Hester became the 11th President of New York University in 1962.
Source: university leadership section
6.Who appointed James McNaughton Hester as the first Rector of the United Nations University?
- A.Kurt Waldheimcorrect
- B.Emperor Showa
- C.Harry Frank Guggenheim
- D.The Board of Regents
James McNaughton Hester was appointed first Rector of the United Nations University in 1974 by United Nations Secretary General Kurt Waldheim.
Source: university leadership section
7.What role did James McNaughton Hester perform while serving on the Fukuoka Military Government Team?
- A.Artist and portrait painter
- B.Management consultant
- C.Battalion adjutant
- D.Civil information and education officercorrect
James McNaughton Hester served in Japan as the civil information and education officer on the Fukuoka Military Government Team.
Source: biography introduction
8.How many children did James McNaughton Hester have with his wife, Janet Rodes?
- A.Four
- B.Five
- C.Threecorrect
- D.Two
James McNaughton Hester and his wife Janet Rodes had three children named Janet, Margaret and Martha.
Source: personal life section
9.In which field did James McNaughton Hester continue a second career after retiring from academia?
- A.Historical research
- B.Political consulting
- C.Investment banking
- D.Oil painting and portraiturecorrect
After retiring from the academic world, James McNaughton Hester became a highly regarded artist specializing in oil paintings and portraits.
Source: retirement section
10.What was the mission of the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation, which James McNaughton Hester led?
- A.To preserve historical archives in Japan
- B.To fund student scholarships for humanities
- C.To support research on the causes and control of violencecorrect
- D.To promote international trade
The foundation is charged with supporting research on the causes, manifestations, and control of violence, aggression, and dominance.
Source: retirement section
11.Which honor did Emperor Showa of Japan confer upon James McNaughton Hester in 1981?
- A.The United Nations Peace Prize
- B.The Order of the Sacred Treasure, First Classcorrect
- C.Honorary Degree from Oxford University
- D.Chevalier of the French Legion of Honour
In 1981, H.M. Emperor Showa of Japan conferred the Order of the Sacred Treasure, First Class, upon James McNaughton Hester.
Source: honors section
12.At what age did James McNaughton Hester become the President of New York University?
- A.35
- B.37correct
- C.40
- D.42
James McNaughton Hester became the 11th President of New York University in 1962 at the age of 37.
Source: university leadership section
13.Where did James McNaughton Hester die on December 31, 2014?
- A.Tokyo, Japan
- B.New York City, New York
- C.Chester, Pennsylvania
- D.Princeton, New Jerseycorrect
James McNaughton Hester died on December 31, 2014, in Princeton, New Jersey.
Source: personal life section
14.What was the profession of James McNaughton Hester's father?
- A.Marine Corps officer
- B.United States Navy Chaplaincorrect
- C.Management consultant
- D.Academic professor
James McNaughton Hester spent his boyhood at various stations assigned to his father, who was a United States Navy Chaplain.
Source: biography introduction
15.What organization did James McNaughton Hester lead immediately before his rectorship at the United Nations University?
- A.The New York Botanical Garden
- B.Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation
- C.New York Universitycorrect
- D.Long Island University
James McNaughton Hester moved from his position as President of New York University to become the first Rector of the United Nations University.
Source: university leadership section
16.What degree did James McNaughton Hester earn from Oxford University in 1955?
- A.Bachelor of Science
- B.Master of Arts
- C.D.Phil. degreecorrect
- D.A.B. degree
James McNaughton Hester received his D.Phil. degree from Oxford University in 1955 after performing research at the National Archives.
Source: military career section
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