BOWDOIN COLLEGE, the oldest and one of the most important seats of learning in Maine, in the village of Brunswick, near the Androscoggin river and the ocean, named after James Bowdoin, gov. of Massachusetts, of which state Maine was for merly a province. The charter was granted by the Massachusetts legislature in 1794, and tive townships of land were given towards the foundation. The object of the insti tution, in the language of the charter, was " to promote virtue and piety, knowledge of the languages, and of the useful and liberal arts and sciences." A dual government was formed, consisting of a board of trustees and a board of overseers. Joseph McKeen. a Dartmouth graduate, was the first president, chosen in 1801, and John Abbott, a Har vard graduate, was made professor of languages. Eight students were accepted in 1802, and in 180G the first honors of the new college were conferred upon eight graduates. At this time the entire college and the residences of professors were in a single house. On the death of president McKeen in 1807, Jesse Appleton, D.D., became president. and held the chair for twelve years, during which time he did much to advance the efficiency and importance of the institution, James Bowdoin, son of gov. Bowdoin, had given the college 1000 acres of land and about $5000, and at his death gave, in addition, more land and many valuable mineralogical specimens, books, and paintings. William Allen, D.D., who bad been president of Dartmouth college, was the next president (1819). lie was in office for twenty years, except for a short period in 1831, when he had a con troversy about authority with the newly organiz;.d state of Maine. The controversy was ended by a decision in his favor by the U. S. circuit court. After Dr. Allen D.D., was president until 1869. He was followed 11N- Samuel D • and
in 1871, Dr. Harris gave place to Joshua L. Clitimherlain.'LL.n. At the present ' time t lore are six or more spacious and well-arranged brick buildings. besides the chapel and mcmoria] hall, which Are of granite. The college is governed by 11 trustees and 40 over seers, the president and vice-president being two of the trustees. At the latest reports, there were 12 professors and 140 students. The curriculum is of the usual variety, some of the languages; however, being optional. For undergraduates there is a scien tific course, in which the degree of n.s. is conferred. There is a post-graduate course of two years in philosophy and the arts. 'Dose of the gradiiatea who have honorably finished a post-graduate course may be appointed fellows, and reside at the college two years, with all the privileges, without further charge. Military instruction is also given. The medical school has 9 professors and 93 students. Among the benefactors of the college, besides James Bowdoin, have been :Mrs. Amos Lawrence. and Daniel W. Lord of Kennebunkport. Of notable graduates there may be named Hawthorne and Longfellow, who had among their fellow-students 'William Pitt Fessentlen, Georav 13. Checver, D.D., Franklin Pierce (president of the United States). John P. Bale, Sargent S. Prentiss, Calvin E. Stowe, D.D., and Luther V. Bell. Mr. Longfellow was profes sor of languages until be removed to Harvard. The prevailing religious sentiment of the college is Congregational.