[Homer_J_Simpson]

I guess this means we have to cancel M.I.T.

[rustbucket]

You inspired me to search old newspapers for other mentions of William Barton Rogers. I found the following in the Staunton Speculator and General Advertiser newspaper of Staunton, Virginia on June 6, 1882:

Link to column 1. My red bold below.

Death of Prof. Wm. B. Rogers.— This eloquent and distinguished scientist, who was but a few weeks since on a visit to our city, dropped dead last Tuesday in Boston, Mass., whilst addressing the graduating class at the Massachusetts school of Technology.

Thus was suddenly extinguished one of the brightest stars in the galaxy of learned scientists. He was born in Philadelphia in 1805. He filled the chair of natural philosophy and geology in the University of Virginia from 1835 to 1853, when he returned to Boston. During his residence in Virginia be organized the Geological State Survey, and remained at its head till it was discontinued in 1842. He also examined the mineral springs of Virginia, and analyzed their waters. After his removal to Boston he continued his scientific studies and publications, delivered lectures at various educational institutions, and from 1862 to 1868 was president of tbe Boston Institute of Technology. In 1875 he was elected president of the American Association for the Advancement Science.

He belonged to a family distinguished for talent. His father, Dr. P. K. Rogers, was professor of natural philosophy and chemistry at William and Mary College, Virginia, and was in 1827 succeeded by his son William Barton Rogers. An older son, James Blythe Rogers, was successively professor of chemistry in Washington Medical College, Baltimore, the Cincinnati Medical College, and the Franklin Medical School of Philadelphia. Henry Darwin Rogers, younger son, was professor of physical sciences at Dickinson College, Carlisle, and afterwards attained great eminence as a geologist. At the time of death he was regius professor of geology and natural history in the University of Glasgow, Scotland. Robert Empire Rogers, the fourth son, distinguished for scientific attainments, filled the chair of chemistry in the University of Virginia for eight years, and then succeeded his brother, William Barton Rogers, as professor of chemistry in the University of Pennsylvania.

I never knew Rogers dropped dead addressing a graduating class. Many a student thought MIT would be the death of themselves.