Rogers wrote Francis Amasa Walker in June 1880 to offer him the Presidency . Because no alumni of MIT were of sufficient age to fill the position , most scientific leaders lacked executive experience , and few leaders shared the founder 's , faculty 's , or Corporation 's vision for the young technical institute , Walker 's previous experience and reputation made him uniquely qualified for the position . Walker ultimately accepted in early May and was formally elected President by the MIT Corporation on May 25 , 1881 ; however , the assassination attempt on President Garfield in July 1881 and the ensuing illness before Garfield 's death in September upset Walker 's transition and delayed his formal introduction to the faculty of MIT until November 5 , 1881 . On May 30 , 1882 , during Walker 's first Commencement exercises , Rogers died mid-speech where his last words were famously " bituminous coal "
assassination attempt
Assassination of James A. Garfield
History of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology