The College of William and Mary
Additional Details:
| Priorities of the College of William and Mary. First college in the United States in its antecedents, which to back to the College proposed at Henrico (1619). Second to Harvard University in actual operation. First American college to receive its charter from the Crown under the Seal of the Privy Council, 1693. Hence it was known as "their Majesties' Royal College of William and Mary." First and only American college to receive a Coat of Arms from th eCollege of Heralds, 1694. First college in the United States to have a full faculty consisting of a president, six professors, usher, and writing master, 1729. First college to confer medallic prizes; the gold medals donated by Lord Boletcourt in 1771. First college to establish an intercollegiate fraternity, the Phi Beta Kappa, December 5, 1776. First college to have the elective system, 1779. First college to become a university, 1779. First college to have a school of modern languages, 1779. First college to teach political economy, 1784. First college to have a school of modern history, 1803. First college to have a course in the fine arts |
