The History of the University of Pennsylvania/Chapter III

by George B. Wood

 

Chapter III.

 

Provost and Professors of the College.

 

As the success of the institution was attributable more to the diligence and abilities of the professors, than, perhaps, to any other cause, we should be doing injustice to their deserts, as well as presenting a very incomplete view of the school itself, were we to pass over, without particular notice, the most prominent among the gentlemen who filled the collegiate chairs.

The first provost, the Rev. Dr. William Smith, was eminent for his various learning, and general ability. Many yet living can bear witness to his eloquence as a preacher; and his published works exhibit, in a very favourable light, his powers of composition. Born and educated in Great Britain, he emigrated to this country about the commencement of the year 1754, and soon after his arrival, was employed in the academy to teach those higher branches, which were at that time introduced into its course of studies. In the performance of this duty, he acquitted himself so well, and, in other respects, gave so much satisfaction to the trustees, that when the institution assumed the form of a college, he was unanimously chosen to fill the office of provost. Thus placed at the head of the seminary, he not only employed in its support the talents for teaching, with which he was eminently endowed; but also exerted himself, with much zeal and success, in enlarging its pecuniary resources. Though, for a time, rendered unpopular with the predominant party, by interfering in those contentions between the legislature and the governors which formed the principal feature in the local politics of the province, he was yet enabled by his talents to command the respect of the public; and in Great Britain, such was the esteem in which he was held, that on a visit he was induced to make to that country, in the year 1759, to escape the resentment of the Pennsylvania legislature, he was received into the highest society, and, at the recommendation of the archbishop of Canterbury and several of the principal bishops, was honoured by the University of Oxford, with the degree of Doctor of Divinity.^[1] The circumstance which exposed him to the ill-will of a numerous party at home, secured him the favour of the proprietors and their friends; and by the influence which he possessed in England, he was enabled, at a subsequent period, very materially to promote the interests of the college. His exertions in its favour were indeed such as frequently called forth the decided approbation of the trustees; and though absent on several occasions, and at one time put under arrest by the legislature, his talents and influence were thought so essential to the prosperity of the school, that he was always maintained in his station, and teachers, when necessary, were temporarily employed to supply his place. On the occasion of his arrest, the classes under his care were directed to attend him at his place of confinement. As the events of Dr. Smith's life are intimately connected with the history of the institution over which he presided, we shall have more than one opportunity of again alluding to them, in the details which follow.

The office of vice-provost and rector of the academy, was occupied by the Rev. Dr. Francis Allison. This gentleman had long been engaged in the business of instruction, and was among the first who established regular schools in the province. That he must have acquired considerable eminence as a teacher, is evinced by the fact, that at a time when honorary degrees were in much higher esteem than at present, that of Doctor of Divinity was spontaneously conferred upon him by the University of Glascow. Before his election to the vice-provostship, be had for several years been attached to the academy as rector, and master of the Latin school.^[2] As in the case of Dr. Smith, his election was unanimous; and the names of both these gentlemen, with their respective titles, were, by direction of the trustees, inserted in the charter of the college. Their duties, as professors, were to preside over the philosophical studies of the different classes, and Dr. Allison assisted also in teaching the languages. For more than twenty years they were the main supports of the institution, with which they remained connected up to the period of that change in its affairs which was brought about during the troubles of the revolution.

Of the other; members of the faculty, the Rev. Ebenezer Kinnersley, professor of English and oratory, was perhaps the most conspicuous. Having been associated with Franklin in the prosecution of his investigations into the subject of electricity, he acquired a taste for that science, which induced him to procure a set of apparatus, calculated to exhibit an exemplification of its newly discovered principles, by varied and pleasing experiments. Thus provided, and at the time engaged in no other employment, he was prevailed on by Franklin to exhibit these experiments publicly, and to accompany them with explanatory lectures; the first, probably, which were delivered on a scientific subject in Philadelphia. The plan succeeded so much to his satisfaction, that he made a journey through most of the colonies, delivering his lectures in the capital towns, and even visited the West Indies on the same errand. In an article of the American Magazine for October, 1758, written, there is every reason to believe, by Dr. Smith, it is stated, that Mr. Kinnersley was "the chief inventor of the electrical apparatus, as well as author of a considerable part of those discoveries in electricity published by Mr. Franklin, to whom he communicated them. Indeed," the author of the paper goes on to say, "Mr. Franklin himself mentions his name with honour, though he has not been careful enough to distinguish between their particular discoveries. This, perhaps, he may have thought needless, as they were known to act in concert. But though that circumstance was known here, it was not so in the remote parts of the world to which the fame of these discoveries has extended." Coming, as this account probably does, from one so closely associated with the subject of it as the provost of the college must have been with one of the professors, it may be received as the statement of Mr. Kinnersley himself. It must, however, be confessed, that Franklin, in his memoirs, has admitted no claim of this or any other person to a participation in the discoveries which he made and announced; but merely states, that he resorted to the assistance of Mr. Kinnersley, as a neighbour and man of leisure, in the performance of his experiments. The electrical apparatus collected by Mr. Kinnersley must have been extensive; for after his death, it was purchased by the trustees of the college, according to a valuation made by impartial and well qualified judges, for the sum of five hundred pounds.^[3] Mr. Kinnersley was introduced into the institution in the year 1753, as the successor of David James Dove, who was the first teacher of the English school. In 1772, the state of his health rendering a voyage to a warm climate advisable, he resigned his station, after having performed its duties for the space of nineteen years.

The professorship of the languages was originally filled by Paul Jackson, who, in the year 1758, left the institution on account of ill health, and was succeeded by John Beveridge. This gentleman had, when young, taught a grammar school in Edinburgh, under the patronage of the celebrated Ruddiman, from whom, as well as from other men of note, he brought with him to this country strong testimonials both of his ability and good conduct. When invited to connect himself with the Philadelphia college, he was residing at Hartford, in Connecticut, where he had for some time been conducting a private Latin school with great success. As a classical scholar he was thought to be inferior to none in the colonies. Some of his compositions in Latin are still extant in our older Magazines, and evince a familiarity with that language, which, with his long habit of teaching, must have well qualified him for his station in the college. Upon his death in 1767, James Davidson, who had previously kept a school in Newark, was appointed to the professorship.

Of the earliest mathematical professor, very little seems to be known. His name was Theophilus Grew, and it would appear, from a slight notice contained in an article of the American Magazine before alluded to, that he had "long been an approved teacher of mathematics and astronomy" in Philadelphia. He was attached to the institution at its origin, and continued so till his death in 1759. Hugh Williamson, a graduate of the school, succeeded to his station.

This brief account of the early professors, will not be thought misplaced by those who feel an interest in the spread of learning, science, and the arts of civilization in a young country, and are willing to do justice to those who made the promotion of this object the business of their lives.

1. At a subsequent period the same honour was conferred on him by the universities of Aberdeen and Dublin.
2. The first rector of the academy was a Mr. Martin, who died very suddenly, soon after his appointment, and was succeeded by Dr. Allison, who then resided in Chester county, and was invited by the trustees to fill the vacant place.
3. It is proper to state that this estimate was made during the revolution, at a period when the legal currency had very much depreciated.