AMOS WESTCOTT, D, D. S.---Article in Troy Record July 6th, 1952 “R.P.I.” Will be Honored at Chicago--In recognition of the fact that it conferred the first engineering degree in any English-speaking country, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will be singularly honored during the Centennial of Engineering program in Chicago.

As the birthplace of engineering as a profession, Rensselaer is the only college selected to take a direct part in the Centennial program, the principal object of which is to celebrate the formation in 1852 of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the first society of engineers in the United States. Sixty-one technical societies are joining in the celebration in Chicago during August and September.

A class of four--William Clement, Jacob Eddy, Edward Suffern and Amos Westcott received the first degrees at Rensselaer. Stephen Van Rensselaer, founder, remarked that the school had been established for “the application of science to the common purposes of life.”

Our former Historian after reading article wrote to Dr.Ray Palmer Baker, c/o Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, at Troy, New York to inquire about Amos Westcott who was one of the four to receive first degrees at the Institute, Dr. Baker replied to Mrs. Baker on August 12, 1952 as follows——”According to the records of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: Amos Westcott was born in Truxton, Cortland County, in New York about 1814, the youngest son of Gardner Westcott. Like many young men of his day, he taught school in the winter and studied during the summer. After being graduated in 1835, he began the study of medicine at the Albany Medical College, from which he was graduated. After 1845 he devoted himself to the practice of dentistry in which profession he attained distinction. He was one of the founders of The American Journal of Dental Science and the first president of the New York State Dental Society. He died in Syracuse, New York about 1874.” Sincerely, Ray P. Baker.

Refer to Volume I, page 408 of Westcott Genealogy.

You will note the above Amos was father of Edward Noyes Westcott who wrote “David Harem”.

Source: Westcott Family Quarterly, December 1952, page 2