James M. Matthews
Encyclopedia
Rev. James M. Matthews was the first Chancellor
of New York University
(NYU).
In December 1829, a group formed as the "New York Athenaeum" led by Albert Gallatin
and Rev. James Matthews, and including representatives of the clergy, the commercial occupations, law, and medicine, met at the home of Reverend Matthews. Backers of a new college also included several disaffected Columbia University
trustees and faculty. http://c250.columbia.edu/c250_events/symposia/history_newyork_timeline.html This gathering resulted in the call for a public meeting for the design and establishment of New York University. At the public meeting, held at the New York Historical Society in January 1830, Jonathan M. Wainwright
of Grace Episcopal Church
, echoing the thinking of the group, proposed a curriculum based on "useful instruction". http://www.nyu.edu/oaa/university.html
Rev. James M. Matthews was first Chancellor
of New York University
largely due to the confidence that Albert Gallatin had in him. New York University opened for instruction in Clinton Hall, opposite City Hall Park from Columbia College
in a building secured through the assistance of Matthews. The building would only be NYU's home for a few years as Matthews looked uptown for a more suitable and permanent academic environment, more specifically bucolic Greenwich Village
.
Rev. Matthews was also instrumental in the financial development, faculty and student growth and facility improvement of the university. He published a series of defenses of the Constitution and civil government as consistent with the Bible. And in 1859 he delivered a baccalaureate address at the Virginia Military Institute.
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
of New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
(NYU).
In December 1829, a group formed as the "New York Athenaeum" led by Albert Gallatin
Albert Gallatin
Abraham Alfonse Albert Gallatin was a Swiss-American ethnologist, linguist, politician, diplomat, congressman, and the longest-serving United States Secretary of the Treasury. In 1831, he founded the University of the City of New York...
and Rev. James Matthews, and including representatives of the clergy, the commercial occupations, law, and medicine, met at the home of Reverend Matthews. Backers of a new college also included several disaffected Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
trustees and faculty. http://c250.columbia.edu/c250_events/symposia/history_newyork_timeline.html This gathering resulted in the call for a public meeting for the design and establishment of New York University. At the public meeting, held at the New York Historical Society in January 1830, Jonathan M. Wainwright
Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright I
Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright I was an Episcopal bishop.-Biography:He was born in England in 1792 to Peter Wainwright and Elizabeth Mayhew. His father Peter, was a tobacconist who emigrated from England to Boston before the American Revolution.His mother was the daughter of Rev...
of Grace Episcopal Church
Grace Episcopal Church
-Alabama:*Grace Episcopal Church , listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Calhoun County, Alabama*Grace Episcopal Church , listed on the NRHP in Barbour County, Alabama...
, echoing the thinking of the group, proposed a curriculum based on "useful instruction". http://www.nyu.edu/oaa/university.html
Rev. James M. Matthews was first Chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
of New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
largely due to the confidence that Albert Gallatin had in him. New York University opened for instruction in Clinton Hall, opposite City Hall Park from Columbia College
Columbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College is the oldest undergraduate college at Columbia University, situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1754 by the Church of England as King's College, receiving a Royal Charter from King George II...
in a building secured through the assistance of Matthews. The building would only be NYU's home for a few years as Matthews looked uptown for a more suitable and permanent academic environment, more specifically bucolic Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
.
Rev. Matthews was also instrumental in the financial development, faculty and student growth and facility improvement of the university. He published a series of defenses of the Constitution and civil government as consistent with the Bible. And in 1859 he delivered a baccalaureate address at the Virginia Military Institute.