Charles W. Eliot was an influential American educator and the president of Harvard University from 1869 to 1909. He is best known for transforming the university into a modern institution, emphasizing research and liberal education. Eliot introduced the elective system, allowing students to choose their courses, which greatly expanded academic freedom. Eliot also played a significant role in the development of higher education in the United States. He was a proponent of the Harvard Classics, a 51-volume anthology of classic works from world literature, aimed at providing a comprehensive education. His ideas and reforms have had a lasting impact on American education.