Historical Highlight: George Washington Responds to Gift Solicitation

President George Washington picks Liberty Hall Academy to receive his gift of stock.

[The following highlight features a September 1796 letter from President George Washington to Virginia Governor Robert Brooke, notifying Brooke that Washington had chosen Liberty Hall Academy as the recipient of his 100 shares of James River Company stock.

In 1784, the Virginia Legislature had decided to honor Washington’s Revolutionary War service by gifting him stock in two public corporations, including the 100 shares of the James River Company. Washington was torn between “gratitude” for the Legislature’s actions and being “embarassed” to receive such a public gift for his service. “I have no inclination (as I have already observed) to avail myself of the generosity of the Country: nor do I want to appear ostentatiously disinterested,” Washington told Benjamin Harrison V, the speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, fromer governor of Virginia, and ancestor to two United States presidents.

Fearing that refusing the shares would “be construed into disrespect,” Washington decided to “allot them for a seminary to be erected” within Virginia, stressing to Brooke that the “exigencies of public & private life demand” that “a plan of Universal education ought to be adopted in the United States.”

The letter was a response to that of Reverand William Graham, the rector of Liberty Hall Academy from 1782 to 1796. Graham, writing for the trustees of Liberty Hall Academy, requested that Washington consider donating the stock to the fledgling school. Graham’s letter has been previously covered by The Spectatorand can be found in full here.]

Philadelphia 

15th Sept: 1796

Sir,
The Commonwealth of Virginia, having manifested their approbation of my design, to apply the hundred shares in the James River Company, which they had before put at my disposal, to the use of a Siminary to be erected in such part of the State as they should deem most proper; and in consequence of this reference to their opinion, the Legislature having requested me to appropriate them to a Siminary at such place in the upper Country as I should think most convenient to a majority of its Inhabitants: After careful enquiries, to ascertain that place, I have, upon the fullest consideration of all circumstances, destined those Shares to the use of Liberty-Hall Academy, in Rockbridge County.

It would seem to me proper that this determination should be promulgated by some official act of the Executive of Virginia; and the Legislature may expect it; for the purpose of general information. With due consideration & respect I am—Sir Your Most Obedt Hble Servt

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