At the age of five, the Burrowes family moved back to their homeland where he studied under the tutorage of scholars from Trinity College as well as clergymen of the Church of England until he was 12 years old.

The board of trustees decided to invite important men of the time—including Thomas Henry Burrowes, an individual with much expertise in educational matters for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania—seeking advice in their search for a new President.

At the board's next meeting, they chose Thomas Henry Burrowes to lead the school; he accepted the offer on December 10 with a $1,000 increase in wages, the use of the president's house and grounds and enough feed for two horses and two cows.

Thomas Henry Burrowes established close relationships with his students, and often took them on camping, hiking, and fishing trips, feeding them his famous Allegheny Stew.

The institution had become involved in debt....President Burrowes brought with him the trust of the public, because his had been an educational career that was widely known in PA, both in itself and for the success that had attended it.

His presence reestablished public confidence, the number of students attracted by his reputation very greatly increased, the course of study was reformed, and the institution was put into practicable working condition.

A road named in his honor travels through the borough of State College and the University Park campus and leads to the Nittany Lion Shrine as well as the Burrowes Building.