William H. Campbell
Encyclopedia
Reverend William Henry Campbell, D.D., LL.D., (September 14, 1808 – December 7, 1890) was the eighth President
of Rutgers College
(now Rutgers University
) serving from 1862 to 1882.
degree from Dickinson College
in 1828, Campbell attended Princeton Theological Seminary
for one year. For the next few years, Campbell briefly taught and preached at several locations before assuming a position as Professor of Oriental Languages at the New Brunswick Theological Seminary
and simultaneously filling the post of Professor of Belles Lettres at Rutgers College
. In 1848, Reverend Campbell became Principal of The Albany Academy
before he was appointed the president of Rutgers College in 1862.
During his tenure, the separation from the Dutch Reformed Church was about complete, and with the development of the Rutgers Scientific School (established with the assistance of Professor George H. Cook for whom it was later renamed), Rutgers beat out the College of New Jersey
(now Princeton University) to be designated by the state legislature as New Jersey's land-grant college
in 1864 under the Morrill Act of 1862. During this time, Rutgers constructed the Geological Hall, erected between Old Queens and Van Nest Hall, which housed an armory in the basement, laboratories for the physical sciences on the first floor, and a large museum on the second floor. In the same year the College received the residuary estate of Sophia Astley Kirkpatrick, in the amount of $65,000, which was used to construct the chapel
which bears her name. The structure, which also contained a library, was dedicated in December 1873. Also, The Daily Targum
, one of the oldest college papers in the United States, was first published (1869), the Rutgers Glee Club was formed (1872), and the first intercollegiate athletic games were held, most notably, the first game
of College football
between Rutgers College
and the College of New Jersey
(now Princeton University
).
He resigned from the presidency of Rutgers College in 1882, because of his failing eyesight. He then organized the Suydam Street Reformed Church in New Brunswick, New Jersey
, and served as its pastor until shortly before his death on 7 December 1890.
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of Rutgers College
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
(now Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
) serving from 1862 to 1882.
Biography
Receiving his baccalaureateBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
degree from Dickinson College
Dickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
in 1828, Campbell attended Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States...
for one year. For the next few years, Campbell briefly taught and preached at several locations before assuming a position as Professor of Oriental Languages at the New Brunswick Theological Seminary
New Brunswick Theological Seminary
New Brunswick Theological Seminary is a professional and graduate school founded in 1784, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, to educate ministers for the congregations of the Reformed Church in America...
and simultaneously filling the post of Professor of Belles Lettres at Rutgers College
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
. In 1848, Reverend Campbell became Principal of The Albany Academy
The Albany Academy
The Albany Academy is an independent college preparatory day school for boys in Albany, New York, USA, enrolling students from Preschool to Grade 12. It was established in 1813 by a charter signed by Mayor Philip Schuyler Van Rensselaer and the city council of Albany...
before he was appointed the president of Rutgers College in 1862.
During his tenure, the separation from the Dutch Reformed Church was about complete, and with the development of the Rutgers Scientific School (established with the assistance of Professor George H. Cook for whom it was later renamed), Rutgers beat out the College of New Jersey
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
(now Princeton University) to be designated by the state legislature as New Jersey's land-grant college
Land-grant university
Land-grant universities are institutions of higher education in the United States designated by each state to receive the benefits of the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890....
in 1864 under the Morrill Act of 1862. During this time, Rutgers constructed the Geological Hall, erected between Old Queens and Van Nest Hall, which housed an armory in the basement, laboratories for the physical sciences on the first floor, and a large museum on the second floor. In the same year the College received the residuary estate of Sophia Astley Kirkpatrick, in the amount of $65,000, which was used to construct the chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
which bears her name. The structure, which also contained a library, was dedicated in December 1873. Also, The Daily Targum
The Daily Targum
The Daily Targum is the official student newspaper of Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey. Founded in 1869, it is the second-oldest collegiate newspaper in the United States. The Daily Targum is student written and managed, and boasts a circulation of 18,000...
, one of the oldest college papers in the United States, was first published (1869), the Rutgers Glee Club was formed (1872), and the first intercollegiate athletic games were held, most notably, the first game
1869 college football season
The 1869 college football season was the first season of intercollegiate football. It is considered the inaugural college football season, and consisted of only two total games, both of which occurred between the and ; The first was played on November 6 at Rutgers' campus, and the second was...
of College football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
between Rutgers College
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
and the College of New Jersey
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
(now Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
).
He resigned from the presidency of Rutgers College in 1882, because of his failing eyesight. He then organized the Suydam Street Reformed Church in New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
, and served as its pastor until shortly before his death on 7 December 1890.