Oliver, Robert W., clergyman and educator, was born in Scotland, Oct. 9, 1815. He was a cavalry officer in the English army in Canada. Later he became a minister in the Presbyterian church, occupying the pulpit in Scotland, whence he came to Butler, Pa., where he served as pastor of a Presbyterian church. He experienced a change in his religious views, and under the direction of the Rev. Alonzo Porter, bishop of Pennsylvania, he was admitted to the holy orders of the Protestant Episcopal church on Nov. 11, 1855. From 1857 to 1863 he served as missionary in western Pennsylvania, at Johnstown, Altoona and Huntington. From 1861 to 1863 he was chaplain in the Federal army. In 1863 Mr. Oliver returned to St. Luke's church at Altoona, but remained only a short time as he was called to Lawrence, Kan., where a school was being organized by the Rev. Charles Reynolds, rector of the Trinity Episcopal church. This school was chartered by the territorial legislature in 1861, under the auspices of the Episcopal church as the "Lawrence University of Kansas." Adverse criticism of the management of Mr. Reynolds caused the American church missionary society to withdraw its support. Mr. Reynolds resigned and went into the United States army as chaplain and Mr. Oliver became his successor. When the state legislature chartered the University of Kansas in 1864, the beginning of a school made by the Episcopalians was turned over to the state. Mr. Oliver was made chancellor and president by the board of regents in March, 1865. On Sept. 6, 1865, Mr. Oliver asked the city council of Lawrence for a formal transfer to the new corporation of the ground on Mt. Oread, where the north college building now stands. The transfer was made on condition that the school should be in operation by Jan. 1, 1867. Mr. Oliver raised the money and executed his part of the contract with the city. He resigned the chancellorship of the university, which had been entirely of a business nature, and became president of the board of regents and its financial agent. Near the close of 1867 he also resigned the rectorship of Trinity church, removing to Nebraska City, Neb., where he became rector of St. Mary's church. In 1883 he went from Nebraska City to Kearney, Neb., where he was rector of St. Luke's church. He also filled the chair of divinity for the diocese of Nebraska, 1883-95, when he went to Philadelphia, where he died in 1899. He was buried in Kearney, Neb.