A COMPENDIUM OF THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN COLLEGES. 5

Joseph McKeen, the first president, was installed in 1802; and at the first commencement, in 1806, there
were eight graduates. Its spacious dormitories are now well filled. Its departments are, 1, Classical;
2, Medical. Its president is the Hon. J. O. Chamberlain, D.D., LL.D., ex-governor of the State. The
number of instructors is 27. The poet Longfellow was professor of modern languages in this college
from 1829 to 1835, when hc was called to Harvard. The college is under the auspices of the Congregz»

tional Church.

omen UNIVERSITY (1195).

Union College at Schenectady, N.Y., was incorporated in 1795 by the regents of the University of the
State of New York. It received its name from the circumstance that several religious denominations
united in its organization; and it was the first college in the country so organized. The Itev. Eliphalet
Nott was its president from 1804 to 1866,—-sixty-two years. The principal features of what has since
developed into a regular scientific department in other colleges were first introduced here. By the recent
union of the schools of law and medicine, and an astronomical observatory, located in the neighboring
city of Albany, with this institution, it has been made a. university with five departments: 1, Classical;
2, Scientific; 3, Law; 4, Medicine: 5, Astronomical. Its president is Rev. E. Nott Potter, D.D., LLD.
The university has valuable real estate and other endowments, with extensive cabinets and libraries. It
is largely supported and patronized by Presbytarians, but is undenomlnational in its religious affairs