William Linn

William Linn
2nd President of Queen's College (now Rutgers University)
In office 1791–1795
Preceded by	Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh
Succeeded by	Ira Condict
1st Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives
In office May 1, 1789 – December 10, 1790
Preceded by	position created
Succeeded by	Samuel Blair
Personal details
Born	February 27, 1752 Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
Died	January 8, 1808 (aged 55) Albany, New York
Alma mater	A.B., College of New Jersey (Princeton) (1772)
Profession	Presbyterian clergyman
Religion	Presbyterianism

The Reverend William Linn (February 27, 1752 – January 8, 1808)^[1] was the second President of Queen's College (now Rutgers University), serving in a pro tempore capacity from 1791 to 1795. He was also the first Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives.

Biography

Born in 1752, William Linn was graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) with a Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) in 1772, and was ordained by the Donegal Presbytery in 1775. After serving as a chaplain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, Linn served as a minister and a teacher before being appointed a Trustee of Queen's College in 1787. After the death of the Rev. Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh in 1790 the Board of Trustees appointed Linn to serve as President pro tempore of Queen's College in 1791. During this time, the college fell into financial trouble, and temporarily closed its doors in 1795. Linn served for twenty-one years as a Regent of the University of the State of New York and died in 1808. ^[2] In 1789 he was elected the first Chaplain of the House of Representatives.^[3]

References

1. Harrison, Richard A. (2014) [1981]. Princetonians, 1769-1775. Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780691615387.
2. "William Linn, President Pro Tem, 1791-1795". Rutgers University. Retrieved 2007-08-26. A gifted preacher, William Linn (1752-1808), of Pennsylvania was described as "a most ardent and impassioned" minister. He graduated from Princeton in 1772, was ordained by the Donegal Presbytery in 1775, and served as a chaplain in the American army during the Revolution before being called as pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Big Springs, Pennsylvania in 1776. Linn remained at Big Springs for seven years before he moved to Maryland to become the principal of the Washington Academy. He left teaching to return to the church in 1786. In 1787, Dr. Linn was appointed a trustee of Queen's College, where he assisted Jacob Hardenbergh in securing subscriptions for the new College building, and when adequate funding for the College appeared remote, debated with his fellow Trustees the merits of merging the College with that of Princeton.
3. "History of the Chaplaincy". Office of the Chaplain, United States House of Representatives. Retrieved 2008-09-20.