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UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
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17th of May, 1757, when its honours were conferred on seven young men who had completed their education within its walls. The names of these earliest graduates were Paul Jackson, Jacob Duché, Francis Hopkinson,[1]Samuel Magaw, Hugh Williamson, James Latta, and John Morgan.
From this period, the institution rose rapidly in importance. The extent and liberality of its plan, conjoined with the excellence of its management, secured it the patronage of the neighbouring population; and it soon acquired a celebrity which attracted numerous students from the distant co-
- ↑ With regard to Mr. Hopkinson, the following is an extract from the minutes of the board of trustees, of May 20th, 1766. "It was resolved, that as Francis Hopkinson, Esq., who was the first scholar in this seminary at its opening, and likewise one of the first who received a degree, was about to embark for England, and has done honour to the place of his education by his abilities and good morals, as well as rendered it many substantial services on all public occasions, the thanks of this institution ought to be delivered to him, in the most affectionate and respectful manner."
of their election. It will be observed that the highest station, influence, and talent in the province, were secured in the government of the college.
Isaac Norris, Thomas Cadwalader, James Hamilton, Alexander Stedman, John Mifflin, Benjamin Chew, Edward Shippen, jr., William Coxe, Thomas Willing, Jacob Duché, jr., Lynford Lardner, Amos Strettell, Andrew Elliot, John Redman, John Penn, John Lawrence, John Allen, Isaac Jones, Richard Penn, Samuel Powell, Thomas Mifflin, William White, James Tilghman, Robert Morris, Francis Hopkinson, George Clymer, Alexander Wilcox, John Cadwalader, and James Wilson. It has been mentioned that Dr. Franklin was the first president of the board. He was succeeded in that office by the Rev. Richard Peters, who was first elected in the year 1756, and was annually re-elected until the year 1764, when the state of his health rendering his absence from the country requisite, his place was supplied by the Hon. James Hamilton, then governor of the province. Mr. Hamilton having gone to England during the same year, the Hon, John Penn, who succeeded him as governor, was appointed to the presidency of the board. In the year 1771, Mr. Penn left the province, and Mr. Hamilton, having returned, was re-elected. At the time of the dissolution of the board, the Hon. Richard Penn, who followed Mr. Hamilton as governor, filled the office of its president.3
