Washington College - Pegasus Yearbook (Chestertown, MD)

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■qVMNAJUlH • AND-VlLLi- VM ' SMITH •H LL - -■

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1931 PEGASUS History of Washington College William Smith First President 1782-1789 l j ||N 1723 there was established in Chestertown an in- T-l. stitution known as the Kent County Free School. h This became the principal seat of learning on the ' — Eastern Shore, and in 1782 the Board of Visitors, anticipating an attendance of two hundred students and feeling that many of these desired to enter upon a course of philosophy and must repair to some other state at a very grievous and inconvenient expense to secure their edu- cation, decided to enlarge their plans and add courses in the arts and sciences of a higher nature. A petition was sent to the Legislature of Maryland and permission was granted to change the school into a college. Reverend Dr. William Smith, who had come to Chestertown in 1780 as rector of the Chester Parish Church, was principal of the Kent County School at this time, and was responsible for raising the sum of ten thousand pounds which the state demanded should be raised for the support of the institution. Among the contributors was George Washington, who gave the college fifty guineas, and, while at camp at Newburgh, gave permission that the new institution should be named in his honor, Washington College. He wrote that he was pleased that this honor should be conferred upon him. The first commencement was held May 14, 1783, with impressive cere- monies and orations given in French and Latin. The next year Washington, who had been made a member of the Board of Visitors and Governors, made a visit to the College, where he was regally entertained. In 1789 he was given the degree of Doctor of Laws by this institution. In 1784, St. John ' s College was established at Annapolis, and for several years this College was united with Washington College as the University of Maryland. These two institutions were supported partly by state aid for nearly twenty years. An allowance was annually received and an able faculty provided for Washington College. Many of the most distinguished men of the state and of nearby states attended Washington College. V A.SiIl.N-f i ' 0 - COM.KOK.-. - i ,,-, ' . V. ! ' :■ ,. I. V . ' i- - i ■ ■ ■ ■ a a ■ I ■ a ■ ■ B a K 1 1 1 1 1 ■ ill f 1 1 I 1 Igl 1 1 1 1 1 1 L. ■ . . f ■. ■ ■ H.i.l ■ ■..in .1. JL , built in 17 S3, . the original home of wasfiin nd completely destroyed bij fire of Washington College, iras ,. h.. fl.. ;« January, 1S2?