William Yates (college president)
Encyclopedia
William Yates, was a clergyman in the Church of England
, educator, fifth president of William and Mary College and is the namesake for Yates Hall on the College's campus
. He died on October 5, 1764 in Williamsburg, Virginia
and is buried at the Abingdon Episcopal Church Cemetery in White Marsh, Virginia
. He was the fourth child and the second son of Rev. Bartholomew Yates, a 1698 graduate of Brasenose College
. He was the long term minister of Christ Church parish, Middlesex, Virginia and continued in that place until his death. He was appointed a visitor of William and Mary College in 1723, and Professor of Divinity in 1729. His mother was Sarah Stanard, the daughter of William Stanard of Middlesex County, Virginia
.
He educated at William and Mary College, at which he was elected usher of the grammar school on April 10, 1744. He was ordained by Edmund Gibson
, Bishop of London
on Apr. 1, 1745. He served as Anglican clergyman at the following parishes: James City Parish, James City, Virginia; Bruton Parish, Williamsburg, Virginia; and Abington Parish, Gloucester County, Virginia. He was also a member of Governor’s Council. He ascended to the presidency as the Board of Visitors attempted to wield greater influence over the College. President Yates largely complied with the wishes of the Visitors, and the College expanded the faculty during this time.
He married Elizabeth A. Randolph, who was born in 1724 and died in 1783. She was the daughter of Elizabeth Graves and Edward Randolph
. He was the son of William Randolph
, a colonist and land owner who played an important role in the history and government of the Commonwealth of Virginia. He and his wife, Mary Isham, are referred to as the "Adam and Eve" of Virginia.
William and Elizabeth were the parents of three children: Edmund Randolph Yates, who attended William and Mary College in 1762; served as a Lt. in Peter Muhlenberg
's company 1779.; Elizabeth Yates who married Rev. William Bland, the son of Richard Bland
; and William Yates, a 1764 graduate of the College of William and Mary and said to have served on General George Washington
's staff and was a Colonel in the department of muster-master-general in the Revolutionary War, but not officially reported, however; was Justice, Amelia County, Virginia
.
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, educator, fifth president of William and Mary College and is the namesake for Yates Hall on the College's campus
Biography
William Yates was born on December 10, 1720 in Gloucester County, VirginiaGloucester County, Virginia
Gloucester County is within the Commonwealth of Virginia in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area in the USA. Formed in 1651 in the Virginia Colony, the county was named for Henry Stuart, Duke of Gloucester, third son of King Charles I of Great Britain. Located in the Middle Peninsula region, it...
. He died on October 5, 1764 in Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
and is buried at the Abingdon Episcopal Church Cemetery in White Marsh, Virginia
White Marsh, Virginia
White Marsh is an unincorporated community in Gloucester County, in the U. S. state of Virginia. White Marsh is located on U.S. Route 17 south of Gloucester Courthouse. White Marsh has a post office with ZIP code 23183....
. He was the fourth child and the second son of Rev. Bartholomew Yates, a 1698 graduate of Brasenose College
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
. He was the long term minister of Christ Church parish, Middlesex, Virginia and continued in that place until his death. He was appointed a visitor of William and Mary College in 1723, and Professor of Divinity in 1729. His mother was Sarah Stanard, the daughter of William Stanard of Middlesex County, Virginia
Middlesex County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,932 people, 4,253 households, and 2,913 families residing in the county. The population density was 76 people per square mile . There were 6,362 housing units at an average density of 49 per square mile...
.
He educated at William and Mary College, at which he was elected usher of the grammar school on April 10, 1744. He was ordained by Edmund Gibson
Edmund Gibson
Edmund Gibson was a British divine and jurist.-Early life and career:He was born in Bampton, Westmorland. In 1686 he was entered a scholar at Queen's College, Oxford...
, Bishop of London
Bishop of London
The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey...
on Apr. 1, 1745. He served as Anglican clergyman at the following parishes: James City Parish, James City, Virginia; Bruton Parish, Williamsburg, Virginia; and Abington Parish, Gloucester County, Virginia. He was also a member of Governor’s Council. He ascended to the presidency as the Board of Visitors attempted to wield greater influence over the College. President Yates largely complied with the wishes of the Visitors, and the College expanded the faculty during this time.
He married Elizabeth A. Randolph, who was born in 1724 and died in 1783. She was the daughter of Elizabeth Graves and 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:...
. He was the son of William Randolph
William Randolph
William Randolph was a colonist and land owner who played an important role in the history and government of the Commonwealth of Virginia. He moved to Virginia sometime between 1669 and 1673, and married Mary Isham a few years later...
, a colonist and land owner who played an important role in the history and government of the Commonwealth of Virginia. He and his wife, Mary Isham, are referred to as the "Adam and Eve" of Virginia.
William and Elizabeth were the parents of three children: Edmund Randolph Yates, who attended William and Mary College in 1762; served as a Lt. in Peter Muhlenberg
Peter Muhlenberg
John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg was an American clergyman, Continental Army soldier during the American Revolutionary War, and political figure in the newly-independent United States...
's company 1779.; Elizabeth Yates who married Rev. William Bland, the son of Richard Bland
Richard Bland
Richard Bland , sometimes referred to as Richard Bland II or Richard Bland of Jordan's Point, was an American planter and statesman from Virginia...
; and William Yates, a 1764 graduate of the College of William and Mary and said to have served on General George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's staff and was a Colonel in the department of muster-master-general in the Revolutionary War, but not officially reported, however; was Justice, Amelia County, Virginia
Amelia County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,400 people, 4,240 households, and 3,175 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile . There were 4,609 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
.
Descendants
- Ellen Anderson Gholson GlasgowEllen GlasgowEllen Anderson Gholson Glasgow was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist who portrayed the changing world of the contemporary south.-Biography:...
, a Pulitzer PrizePulitzer PrizeThe Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
winning American novelNovelA novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
ist. - Roger Atkinson PryorRoger Atkinson PryorRoger Atkinson Pryor was both an American politician and a Confederate politician serving as a congressman on both sides. He was also a jurist, serving in the New York Supreme Court, a lawyer, and newspaper editor...
, was both an AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and a ConfederateConfederate States of AmericaThe Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
politician serving as a congressman on both sides.
He was also a juristJuristA jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
, serving in the New York Supreme CourtNew York Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
, a lawyer, and newspaper editor. Pryor is also known for being a ConfederateConfederate States ArmyThe Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
Brigadier General during the American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. - Luke PryorLuke PryorLuke Pryor was a U.S. senator from the state of Alabama. He was appointed to fill the Senate term left by the death of George S. Houston and served from January 7 to November 23, 1880, when a replacement was elected. Pryor was a Democrat...
, was a U.S. senatorUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from the stateU.S. stateA U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of AlabamaAlabamaAlabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
External links
- The history of the College of William and Mary from its foundation, 1660, to 1874. Publisher: William and Mary College, (1874).
- College of William and Mary.
- Yates Hall