St Johns College - Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

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forming a long procession from State House to the college hall. Among the students of that early period are to be found the names of George Washington Park Custis, a stepgrandson, and Fairfax and Lawrence Washington, nephews of George Washington, also, of Francis Scott Key, who entered St. john's, November 11th, 1789, and graduated in 1796. ' On Friday morning, March 25th, 1791, President Washington, attended by the Governor of Maryland and a number of citizens, visited St. john's College, and expressed much satisfaction at the appearance of this rising institution. The following letter was written a little later as a proof of his friendly sentiments toward St. johnls :Q ANNAPOLIS, April 7th, 1791. To THE FACULTY OF ST. JoHN's COLLEGE. GENTLEMEN :-The satisfaction which I have derived from my visit to your infant seminary is expressed with real pleasure, and my wishes for its progress to perfection are proffered with sincere regard. The very promising appearance of its infancy must Hatter all its friends Qwith whom I entreat you to class mej, with the hope of an early, and at the same time, a mature manhood. You will do justice to the sentiments which your kind regard towards myself inspires, by believing that I reciprocate the good wishes contained in your address, and I sincerely hope the excel- lence of your seminary will be manifested in the morals and science of the youths who are favored with your care. GEORGE WASHINGTON. With the aid of private subscriptions as well as lib- eral appropriations from the Legislature, the college went forward under Dr. john McDowell, the nrst president, in its work of educating men, till january, 1806, when the Legislature, by majority of only six, withdrew the annuity, and the visitors and governors of the college were compelled to announce that the college must close. Within the brief period of thirteen years, from 1793. when the first class was graduated, until 1806, the names of four Governors of Maryland, six United States Sena- tors, five members of the House of Representatives. four judges of the Courts, one Attorney-General, one United States District Attorney, one Auditor of the United States Treasury, six State Senators, fifteen members of the House of Delegates, besides foreign consuls. oiiicers of the army and navy, physicians and surgeons. distin- guished lawyers Cincluding one Chancellor of South Caro- linay, college professors, etc., are to be found among the names in the register of the alumni. In I-S07 Rev. Dr. Bethel Judd was chosen principal, and the work. though grieviously hampered by the action of the Legislature. was partially continued, and in january, ISI2, SIOOO of the annuity was restored. A lottery granted in ISZI added 320,000 to the funds, and enabled the college to extend its work. Rev. Dr. Henry Lyon Davis served as principal from 1820 to 1824, and the Rev. Dr. XYilliam Rafferty from I824. to 1831. In 1831 Rev. Dr. Hector

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porated with the college, we find him occupying the posi- tio11 of Professor of Languages in the newly-organized institution. This school is noted ill the annals of the State as the nursery of some of her greatest men, amongst others the distinguished lawyer and statesman, VVilliam Pinkney. Information, however, regarding this seminary is but meager, although the act of 1750 indicates that the school was not without influential friends and supporters. Ill the meantime, in 1732, as appears by a paper 11ow lyi11g in the executive department at Annapolis, proposals for founding a college at Annapolis were read i11 the Upper House of Asse111bly and recommended to the considera- tltill of the Lower House, but no legislative effect was given to these proposals. This project was again revived in 1763. A com- mittee of the General Assembly recommended that the house i11 the city of Annapolis wl1icl1 was intended for the Governor of the province, be completely finished a11d used for the college proposed to be establisliedfl the money for the worl: to come out of the public treasury. The annual cost of the faculty, consisting of seven mas- ters, with the five servants, was provided for. The measure, however, failed to pass the Upper House. Ten years later the intention of establishing a college i11 Annapolis was again manifested, as we learn from a letter written Gctober ith, 1773, by 'Williani Eddis, surveyor of customs, at Annapolis, to a friend i11 England. I11 this letter he states that Hthe Legislature has determined to found a college for the education of youth in every liberal and useful branch of science, which will preclude the necessity of crossing the Atlantic for tl1e completion of a classical and polite education. A building on the banks of the Severn, originally intended for the Governors mansion, but described i11 the letter as K' a melancholy and mouldering monument, was desig- nated as the proposed collegeiate edifice. This building is now McDowell Hall, the central one of five constituting St. Iohn's College. The Revolution interfered with the carrying out of the plan, but in i784 tl1e charter of St. John's College was granted, two years after a like charter had been given for the establishment of W'ashington College at Chestertown, on the Eastern Shore. It was intended by the terms of the charter that the two colleges thus founded should constitute one univer- sity under the 11an1e of the University of Maryland. By act, 1785, the property a11d funds and students of King W'illiam's School were conveyed to St. John's College. Among the chattels passed to the college were a number of quaint and curious volumes l' brought over by tl1e Rev. Dr. Bray from England, and which still remain in the library of St. johnls. - On November 11, 1789, the college was formally opened, and the dedication was performed with much solemnity, all the public bodies being in attendance, and

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