History of Davidson, (Mecklenburg County) North Carolina United States of America

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Biographies:

George Wilson McPhail, educator, was born in Norfolk, Va., in 1816. He was a student at Hampden Sidney college, Va., 1829-31; and was graduated from Yale, A.B., 1835, A.M., 1841. He studied theology at Hampden Sidney, was ordained to the Presbyterian ministry 1839 and was a missionary to Prince George county, Va., 1839-41, and pastor at Fredericksburg, 1842-54, where he also conducted a female seminary. He was pastor Easton, Pa., 1854-57; president of Lafayette college, 1857-63; a teacher in Professor Saunders's seminary, Philadelphia, 1863-64; pastor in Norfolk, Va., 1865; and president of Davidson college, N.C., and professor of mental and moral philosophy there, 1866-71. He received the honorary degree of D.D. from Jefferson college in 1857 and that of LL.D. from the University of Mississippi in 1868. He died at Davidson, N.C., June 28, 1871.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

William Joseph Martin, educator, was born in Richmond, Va., Dec. 11, 1830; son of Dr. Edward Fitzgerald and Frances Anne (Foster) Martin. Edward Martin came as a young man to America from Ireland, settled in Richmond, and was a physician there. William Joseph Martin was graduated at the University of Virginia, A.B., 1854, and was professor of natural science in Washington college, Pa., 1854-57. He was professor of chemistry, mineralogy and geology in the University of North Carolina, 1857-67, and he left the university with most of the faculty and students in 1861 to enlist in the Confederate army. He recruited a company of the 28th North Carolina volunteers and he was promoted major and lieutenant-colonel of the 11th North Carolina which had been the first volunteer regiment and familiarly known as the "Bethel regiment," which in 1863 left the state and was assigned to Lee's army of North Virginia. He commanded the regiment in the 1st brigade, Heth's division, A. P. Hill's 3d army corps, in the battle of Gettysburg after Col. Collett Levinthorpe was wounded; in the Wilderness campaign in Kirkland's brigade. Heth's division; was promoted colonel and served in MacRae's brigade, Heth's division, in the engagements around Petersburg. He was four times wounded; was promoted brigadier-general, and was in command of the brigade at Appomattox. In 1867 he founded a high-school at Columbia, Tenn., and in 1869 accepted the chair of chemistry in Davidson college, N.C., where he established a private laboratory and subsequently a working laboratory for the students, He served as vice-president, 1884-96, and as acting president, 1887-88, declining the presidency in 1888. The Columbian university, D.C., gave him the honorary degree of A.M. in 1858 and he received the degree of LL.D. from Hampden Sidney college in 1887, and from the University of North Carolina in 1889. He was succeeded in 1896 by his son, William Joseph Martin, A. B., Davidson, 1888, A.M., 1893; M.D., University of Virginia, 1890, Ph.D., 1895; adjunct professor of sciences at Davidson, 1890-91; instructor in chemistry University of Virginia, 1892-96. Dr. William J. Martin. Sr., died at Davidson, N.C., March 26, 1896.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor