Patrick Hues Mell

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Patrick Hues Mell (July 19, 1814 - January 26, 1888), born in Walthourville, Georgia, was chancellor of the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens from 1878 until his resignation in 1888. (The head of the University was referred to as chancellor instead of president, from 1860 until 1932). Mell entered Amherst College in 1833, studied there for two years, but did not graduate with his class (1837).

In 1856 Mell moved from Mercer University to the University of Georgia as Professor of Ancient Languages. In 1860, he was appointed vice-chancellor, a position which was abolished in 1872.

In 1857 Mell was elected president of the Georgia Baptist Convention and three years later was named president of the Southern Baptist Convention. He retained both positions until his death in Athens.

In 1878, the University of Georgia had fallen on hard times. Enrollment and support were in decline, and the school needed a strong leader. Despite his initial unwillingness to take the job, Mell reluctanly accepted the Chancellorship, provided, among other things, that the Board of Trustees rescind its rule barring student secret societies (commonly known today as college fraternities). The ban had become a major source of conflict between students and faculty that Mell hoped to avoid. As a result of this action, the modern Greek system that today comprises nearly one-fifth of UGA students owes its existence to Mell.

Another issue Mell tackled was the Trustees' requirement for most students that they live in dormitory housing provided by the university. Believing this to be a bad policy, Mell informed the Board that he could not enforce it. At his urging, they repealed the rule.

A final issue was the establishment of the School of Technology in the 1880s. Mell was a firm believer that it should be located at Athens with the University's main campus, like the Agricultural and Mechanical School. Despite Mell's arguments, the Georgia Institute of Technology (founded 1885) is today an entirely separate school located in Atlanta, and is the chief rival of the Athens university.^[1]

By 1888, Mell had become ill and resigned the Chancellor's position; he died shortly thereafter. His passing was met with mourning across the state and by Southern Baptists everywhere.