Professor William M. Wightman was an alumnus of Charleston College, South Carolina, and a member of the South Carolina Conference. He took the chair of English Literature and Rhetoric which Professor E. D. Sims was expected to fill after his return from Europe. He was a man of decided talent and culture, and was in the prime of life, and well fitted for the work assigned him. He remained until Professor Sims returned from Europe, and then returned to South Carolina. He filled other very important and prominent positions in after years, viz.: The editor's chair of the South Carolina Christian Advocate, the Presidency of Wofford College, Spartanburg, S. C., and the Southern University, Greensboro, Ala. While at the latter he was elected, in 1866, Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in which office he served till his death, February 15, 1882. He received the degree of D. D. from Randolph-Macon College.
[Illustration: PROFESSOR DAVID DUNCAN, A. M.]
Professor David Duncan was a native of Ireland, and a graduate of Glasgow University, Scotland. At the time of his election to the chair of Ancient Languages he was conducting a flourishing classical school in the city of Norfolk, Va. The whole of an extended manhood was spent in teaching, the prime of it from 1837 to 1857. To his high scholarship was added a singularly genuine character and gentlemanly and genial deportment, which made him acceptable to his associates and popular with his classes. He was brimming full always with wit and humor. He was the father of Rev. J. A. Duncan, D. D., President of Randolph-Macon College, 1868-1877 and Bishop W. W. Duncan of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He died at Wofford College, where he was Professor of Ancient Languages, in 1881.
The year 1836-'37 was marked by the first report of the raising of a considerable instalment of the proposed Virginia Conference endowment of a Professorship. Rev. Jno. Early reported eighty-seven subscribers of two hundred dollars each, making $17,400. It was also a prosperous and satisfactory year in College work. The report of the Faculty made to the Trustees referred with emphasis to the good deportment and studiousness which had characterized the student body during the closing session. Their report also for the first time indicated the distinctions in the graduating class, which were as follows:
1. JAMES W. HARDY, . . . . . . . . . . Georgia.
2. FRANCIS N. MULLEN,. . . . . . . . . North Carolina.
3. JUNIUS L. CLEMONS,. . . . . . . . . North Carolina.
4. LEWIS W. CABELL,. . . . . . . . . . Virginia.
5. ROBERT M. INGRAM, . . . . . . . . . Virginia.
6. WARREN DU PRE,. . . . . . . . . . . South Carolina.
ADAMS, RICHARD E. G., . . . . . . . Virginia.
BEARD, CLOUGH S., . . . . . . . . . South Carolina.
BLAIN, GEORGE W., . . . . . . . . . Virginia.
CROFT, ISAAC C.,. . . . . . . . . . South Carolina
GEE, JESSE, . . . . . . . . . . . . Virginia.
HORSELEY, WILLIAM A., . . . . . . . Virginia.
MONTGOMERY, HENRY T., . . . . . . . Virginia.
SAMFORD, WILLIAM F.,. . . . . . . . Georgia.
STEWART, THEOPHILUS,. . . . . . . . Georgia.
WILLIAMSON, JAMES J., . . . . . . . Virginia.
In all sixteen.
The first-honor man pronounced the Valedictory Address; the second-honor man, the Latin Salutatory; the third, the Philosophical.
[Illustration: PROFESSOR WARREN DU PRE, A. M. Tutor at Randolph-Macon
College; Professor at Wofford College, South Carolina; President Martha
Washington Female College, Virginia.]
COLLEGE YEAR 1837-'38.
This year, under the presidency of Professor Landon C. Garland, acting president, the college made good progress. In the annual report of the Faculty made to the Trustees June, 1838, they say: "The past year has been one of peculiar interest and pleasure on account of the highly respectable conduct and praiseworthy diligence of the students generally, the number of whom has amounted to one hundred and ten in the College, and over fifty in the Preparatory School."