Harrison Randolph was the 13th President and professor of mathematics at the College of Charleston

College of Charleston

The College of Charleston is a public, sea-grant and space-grant university located in historic downtown Charleston, South Carolina, United States...

 from 1897 to 1945.

Randolph was born in New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...

 to John Feild Randolph and Virginia Dashiell Randolph, née Bayard. He was a lineal descendant

Lineal descendant

A lineal descendant, in legal usage, refers to a blood relative in the direct line of descent. The children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc...

 of Edward Randolph

Edward Randolph

Edward Randolph , sometimes referred to as Edward Randolph of Bremo, was a ship captain, a London tobacco merchant, and the seventh and youngest son of William Randolph and Mary Isham.-Biography:...

 of the Bremo Plantation

Bremo Historic District

Bremo, also known as Bremo Plantation or Bremo Historic District, is a plantation estate covering on the west side of Bremo Bluff in Fluvanna County, Virginia. The large mansion at Upper Bremo is believed to be based on the architectural work of Thomas Jefferson...

, who was his great-great-great grandfather and Benjamin Harrison V

Benjamin Harrison V

Benjamin Harrison V was an American planter and revolutionary leader from Charles City County, Virginia. He earned his higher education at the College of William and Mary, and he was perhaps the first figure in the Harrison family to gain national attention...

, a paternal ancestor who signed the Declaration of Independence

Declaration of independence

A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...

. He attended the University of Virginia

University of Virginia

The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...

, graduating in 1892 with a Master of Arts

Master of Arts (postgraduate)

A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...

 degree, and continued graduate study there from 1892 through 1895 while also serving as an instructor in mathematics. During this time he also served as the organist in the University of Virginia Chapel and directed the Virginia Glee Club

Virginia Glee Club

The Virginia Glee Club is a critically acclaimed men's chorus based at the University of Virginia. It performs both traditional and contemporary vocal works, typically in TTBB arrangements. Founded in 1871, the Glee Club is the University's oldest musical organization and one of the oldest all-male...

, leading the latter organization on tours through the Southeast. Randolph had been elected of the President of the University of Arkansas

University of Arkansas

The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...

 in 1892, but declined the position. In 1895, he was elected chair of Mathematics at the University of Arkansas, remaining there until 1897.

College of Charleston

In 1897, Randolph was elected President and Chair of Mathematics at the College of Charleston. When he arrived, the College principally enrolled students from the city of Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...

. Under his presidency, the student body population changed as he led the building of residence halls and created scholarships to attract students from throughout South Carolina

South Carolina

South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...

. He also oversaw the admission of women to the college in 1917. Under his leadership, the College grew from 68 students in 1905 to more than 400 in 1935.

Randolph was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Tau Omega

Alpha Tau Omega

Alpha Tau Omega is a secret American leadership and social fraternity.The Fraternity has more than 250 active and inactive chapters, more than 200,000 initiates, and over 7,000 active undergraduate members. The 200,000th member was initiated in early 2009...

.

In August 2008, Charleston Magazine named Randolph the 72nd most influential individual in Charleston's history, citing his work to modernize the College of Charleston.