List of Presidents of Brown University

The following is a list of Presidents of Brown University From 1765 to the 1920s, the president was required by the University Charter to be of the Baptist denomination:

Also see Ivy League Presidents.
President Brown Class Life Tenure Events
1. Reverend James Manning - 1738-1791 1765-1791 The College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations is established. American Revolution. The College of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations is established.
2. Reverend Jonathan Maxcy[1] 1787 1768-1820 1792-1802
3. Reverend Asa Messer[2] 1790 1769-1836 1802-1826 The College of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations is renamed as Brown University; first Medical School founded
4. Reverend Francis Wayland - 1796-1865 1827-1855 Suspension of the Medical School
5. Reverend Barnas Sears 1825 1802-1880 1855-1867
6. Reverend Alexis Caswell 1822 1799-1877 1868-1872
7. Reverend Ezekiel Robinson[3] 1838 1815-1894 1872-1889 Graduate study instituted
8. Reverend Elisha Andrews 1870 1844-1917 1889-1898 Women's College founded
9. Reverend William Faunce[4] 1880 1859-1930 1899-1929 Women's College renamed to Pembroke College
10. Reverend Clarence Barbour 1888 1867-1937 1929-1937 Last of long line of Baptist minister Presidents
11. Henry Wriston - 1889-1978 1937-1955 First non-Baptist (Methodist) and first president since Wayland, who was not an alum of the college
12. Barnaby Keeney - 1914-1980 1955-1966
13. Ray Heffner[5] - 1925- 1966-1969 New Curriculum passed
14. Donald Hornig[6] - 1920- 1970-1976 Pembroke merged with Brown, Medical School founded
15. Howard Swearer - 1932-1991 1977-1988
16. Vartan Gregorian - 1934- 1989-1997
17. Gordon Gee - 1944- 1998-2000
18. Ruth Simmons - 1945- 2001- In 2001, Time named Simmons as America's best college president. First woman and first African-American President of an Ivy League school
Presidents of Brown University
Manning • Maxcy • Messer • Wayland • Sears • Caswell • Robinson • Andrews • Faunce • Barbour • Wriston • Keeney • Heffner • Hornig • Swearer • Gregorian • Gee • Simmons

References

  1. ^ From Martha Mitchell’s Encyclopedia Brunoniana: Maxcy, Jonathan
  2. ^ From Martha Mitchell’s Encyclopedia Brunoniana: Messer, Asa
  3. ^ From Martha Mitchell’s Encyclopedia Brunoniana: Gilman, Ezekiel
  4. ^ From Martha Mitchell’s Encyclopedia Brunoniana: Faunce, William H.P.
  5. ^ From Martha Mitchell’s Encyclopedia Brunoniana: Heffner, Ray L.
  6. ^ From Martha Mitchell’s Encyclopedia Brunoniana: Hornig, Donald F.