Matthew Brown (college president)

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For other people named Matthew Brown, see Matthew Brown (disambiguation).
Matthew Brown
BornJanuary 1776
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania (present day Union County, Pennsylvania)
DiedJuly 29, 1853(1853-07-29) (aged 77)
EducationDickinson College
ChurchPresbyterian
OrdainedPresbytery of Carlisle, October 3, 1799
Offices held
First president of Washington College
Fifth president of Jefferson College

Matthew Brown was a prominent Presbyterian minister and president of

John McMillan, Brown was the most important figure to education in Western Pennsylvania.[1]

Brown was born in January 1776 in

Pennsylvania Legislature.[2]

Brown graduated from Dickinson College in 1794 and taught in a classical school in Northumberland County.[2] In 1796, he began to study theology and was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Carlisle on October 3, 1799.[2] He held a call in Mifflin, Pennsylvania and Lost Creek within the Presbytery of Huntingdon.[2]

On October 15, 1805 he was installed as preacher of the First Presbyterian Church of Washington, Pennsylvania.[2] He was also elected principal of Washington Academy and was a principal agent in securing its charter to become Washington College; he was elected its first president on December 13, 1806, serving that position in tandem with his pastoral duties.[2] The reputation of the college and the prosperity of the church grew considerably under his leadership.[2] During this time, the town of Washington had grown from a small pioneer settlement into a larger town, and he vigorously denounced the growing practices of card playing and dances in his famous "Serpent Sermon."[3] Brown was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1815.[4] In 1817, and agreement was made between the church and Washington College that no one should supervise both institutions.[3] Brown chose the church and resigned the presidency on April 30, 1817.[3] He turned down offers of the presidency of Centre College and his alma mater Dickinson College to remain as pastor in Washington.[2] He resigned that position in 1822 to accept the presidency of Jefferson College at Canonsburg.[2]

On September 25, 1822, Brown was elected the fifth president of Jefferson College, largely due to the support and influence of Rev. Dr. Samuel Ralston, who was president of the Board of Trustees of Jefferson College.

Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. The college erected Providence Hall between 1829 and 1832.[5] Jefferson College graduated 770 students during his tenure. He resigned at the age of 69 in 1845 due to ill health.[5] He died on July 29, 1853.[5]

Works

References

  1. OCLC 2191890
    .
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1893. p. 84.
  3. ^ a b c "Matthew Brown (1806-1817)". U. Grant Miller Library Digital Archives. Washington & Jefferson College. 2003-09-04.
  4. ^ American Antiquarian Society Members Directory
  5. ^ a b c d e "Matthew Brown (1822-1845)". U. Grant Miller Library Digital Archives. Washington & Jefferson College. 2003-09-04.
Academic offices
Preceded by
Position created
Washington College

1806–1817 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Jefferson College

1822–1845 		Succeeded by

a

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