George Washington (1732-1799)
Contents
Biographical Sketch
George Washington (February 22, 1732 - December 14, 1799) led America's Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), and in 1789 was elected the first President of the United States of America. He served two four-year terms from 1789 to 1797. Washington received his surveyor's license from the College of William and Mary in 1749. Washington served as the first American Chancellor of the College of William and Mary from 1788 to 1799.
George Washington on the College of William and Mary
In a letter dated January 7, 1773, George Washington writes to Rev. Jonathan Boucher (tutor to John Parke Custis, Washington's step-son) regarding Washington's suggestions as to whether Custis should attend William & Mary. The original letter is available in the Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library. The following is a partial transcription of that letter:
"...I cannot think William and Mary College a desirable place to send Jack Custis to -- the in-attention of the Masters, added to the number of Hollidays is the subject of general complaint... These considerations, added to a desire of withdrawing the mind of my ward as much as possible from the objects which seem at present to have engrossed too much of his attention...I have, I think, determined to send him to the Philadelphia College, which from the best information I have been able to get...stands equally fair with any other, and being nearer is more agreeable to his mother..."
| Preceded by | College of William and Mary Chancellor | Succeeded by |
|---|---|---|
| Richard Terrick
1764-1776 |
George Washington
1788-1799 |
John Tyler
1859-1862 |
Material in the Special Collections Research Center
- Search George Washington in the SCRC database.
Need help?
To search for further material, visit the Special Collections Research Center's Search Tool List for an overview of the Special Collections Database, W&M Digital Archive, Flat Hat-William & Mary News-Alumni Gazette index, card catalogs, and other tools available to help you find material of interest in William & Mary Libraries Special Collections Research Center.
Questions? Contact the Special Collections Research Center at spcoll@wm.edu or 757-221-3090, or visit the Special Collections Research Center in the Earl Gregg Swem Library at William & Mary.
| A Note About The Contents Of This Wiki |
|---|
| The information available in this wiki is the best available from known documents and sources at the time it was written. Unfortunately, many of the early original records of William & Mary were destroyed by fires, military occupation, and the normal effects of time. Information in this wiki is not complete as new information continues to be uncovered in Swem Library's Special Collections Research Center and elsewhere. Researchers are strongly encouraged to use the Special Collections search tools for their research as the information contained in this wiki is by no means comprehensive. |
