At present, only two buildings remain which were here in the 17th century: the Galt House on Francis Street and the main building of the College.
THE COLLEGE.
The first attempt to found a college in America had its inception at Jamestown in 1617. Land was secured near the present site of Richmond and considerable endowment was invested in farm stock. Before operation of the college could begin, the whole undertaking was wiped out by the great Indian massacre of 1622. Two generations later a group of important citizens met at the house of Col. Page to make plans for an institution which would make advanced education possible without the necessity of going to England. As a result of this meeting action was secured from the colonial legislature and Rev. James Blair was sent to London to request a charter and financial assistance from King William and Queen Mary. Not only was he successful in his main object but, at the same time, he got Sir Christopher Wren to draw plans for a building which should be worthy of the College of William and Mary in Virginia. This central structure of the College, generally known as The Wren Building, was designed in the form of a quadrangle; the easterly side was constructed in 1695, the northerly and westerly wings shortly thereafter; the fourth side of the quadrangle has never been built.
WREN BUILDING—COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY
Few students in the America of today have a more magnificent inspirational background than those who attend classes in the Wren Building. Probably nowhere else did so many of the real founders of our government get their education and inspiration in the same rooms. In one manner or another there have been associated with William and Mary, Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Monroe and (in the next generation) Tyler, as well as jurists and statesmen of the most beneficent influence. And great teachers there were, too. Thomas Jefferson testified that it was from Professor Small that he received the inspiration for his life work. Bishop Madison, the first president under the Commonwealth, was a really great teacher of Natural Phylosophy, as were Patrick Rogers and his famous son.[1]
THE CAPITOL
Dr. Blair was a truly remarkable man. While in London he wrote back that he had secured the necessary teachers for the College but that he could not find anyone adequate for the presidency; but, he added, perhaps he would do pretty well, himself, in that position; and so it came about. It is perfectly clear that he was one of the leading citizens of Virginia. He was simultaneously Commissary of the Bishop of London (the highest ecclesiastical office in the Colony), Rector of Bruton Parish, President of the College, member of the Governor’s Council and thereby a judge in the highest court in Virginia. He was a man of very firm character, usually in a serious controversy with some important opponent; as a result, he secured the cashiering of three Royal Governors. One of these contests throws interesting light on academic customs, there being an annual “lock-out day” at the College. On one of these celebrations (the immediate object being the securing of a longer Christmas recess), the boys being inside the Wren Building and having nailed the doors to prevent entrance by any faculty members, President Blair superintended the forcing open of a door. During the scuffle he received the contents of a gun in his shoulder, after which he sent formal complaint to the authorities in London charging that the Governor of the Colony had armed the pupils for an attack on their president. For months thereafter criminations and recriminations traveled across the Atlantic. The Governor swore that he lent the students only the gun and powder, no bullets whatever. It became apparent that what hit the President’s shoulder was only the paper which was used to ram in the powder. Nevertheless, Governor Spotswood left and Dr. Blair remained.
