University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons History of the University of Pennsylvania Penn Press January 1940 Portraits in the University of Pennsylvania Agnes Addison Follow this and additional works at: http://repository.upenn.edu/penn_history Addison, Agnes, "Portraits in the University of Pennsylvania" (1940). History of the University of Pennsylvania. 1. http://repository.upenn.edu/penn_history/1 All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations used for purposes of scholarly citation, none of this work may be reproduced in any form by any means without written permission from the publisher. For information address the University of Pennsylvania Press, 3905 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-4112. Reprinted from Portraits in the University of Pennsylvania, edited by Agnes Addison (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1940). This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. http://repository.upenn.edu/penn_history/1 For more information, please contact [email protected]. Portraits in the University of Pennsylvania Abstract This volume includes descriptions of the two hundred and sixty-seven portraits in oil and pastel owned by the University of Pennsylvania, of which one hundred and two are here illustrated. Portrait statues, busts, and medallions, pen-and-ink, charcoal, and pencil drawings have been omitted. The ubjs ects are arranged chronologically by date of birth. At the end of the brief biographies, the measurements of the portraits are given in inches, height by width, together with the name of the artist where available, and the location of the portraits in the University buildings. Numerals provide cross references to the biographies and illustrations. Where there is more than one portrait of a subject an asterisk (*) in the descriptive details indicates which is illustrated. The portraits were photographed in black and white and in color by Carlton D. Fambrough of the Graduate Department of Anatomy, and the prints are now on file in the University. The biographical information for the subjects has been obtained from the Dictionary of American Biography, Who's Who in America, the Trustee and Alumni Records of the University, obituaries, and from subjects and their relatives who have been generous in their cooperation. The ts aff of the rF ick Art Reference Library has aided in obtaining dates of artists. Many thanks are due to all who have helped to assemble the volume, especially to Dr. Edward W. Mumford and Mr. William DuBarry, Secretary and Vice-President respectively of the University of Pennsylvania, for their assistance in preparing the manuscript and selecting the illustrations. Lastly, publication has been made possible by the generous assistance and interest of Mr. John Frederick Lewis, Jr., of Philadelphia. Comments All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations used for purposes of scholarly citation, none of this work may be reproduced in any form by any means without written permission from the publisher. For information address the University of Pennsylvania Press, 3905 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-4112. Reprinted from Portraits in the University of Pennsylvania, edited by Agnes Addison (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1940). This book is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn.edu/penn_history/1 PORTRAITS IN THE UNIVERSITY oj PENNSYLVANIA IN BENJAMIN FRANKLIN UNIVERSITY of THE PENNSYLVANIA Edited by AGNES ADDISON University of Pennsylvania Press Philadelphia 1940 .I. •\ • Copyright 1940 UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA PRESS Manufactured in the United States 9f America London Humphrey Milford Oxford University Press \ ' Foreword This volume includes descriptions of the two ate Department of Anatomy, and the prints hundred and sixty-seven portraits in oil and are now on file in the University. pastel owned by the University of Pennsyl­ vania, of which one hundred and two are here The biographical information for the subjects illustrated. Portrait statues, busts, and medal­ has been obtained from the Dictionary of lions, pen-and-ink, charcoal, and pencil draw­ American Biography, Who's Who in America, ings have been omitted. the Trustee and Alumni Records of the Uni­ versity, obituaries, and from subjects and their The subjects are arranged chronologically by relatives who have been generous in their co­ date of birth. At the end of the brief biogra­ operation. The staff of the Frick Art Reference phies, the measurements of the portraits are Library has aided in obtaining dates of artists. given in inches, height by width, together with the name of the artist where available, Many thanks are due to all who have helped and the location of the portraits in the Uni­ to assemble the volume, especially to Dr. Ed­ versity buildings. Numerals provide cross ref­ ward W. Mumford and Mr. William DuBarry, erences to the biographies and illustrations. Secretary and Vice-President respectively of Where there is more than one portrait of a the University of Pennsylvania, for their as­ subject an asterisk (*) in the descriptive de­ sistance in preparing the manuscript and se­ tails indicates which is illustrated. The portraits lecting the illustrations. Lastly, publication has were photographed in black and white and in been made possible by the generous assistance color by Carlton D. Fambrough of the Gradu- and interest of Mr. John Frederick Lewis, Jr., of Philadelphia. AGNES ADDISON Philadelphia June 1940 , \ Portraits zn the University of Pennsylvania BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WILLIAM SMITH 17°6-1790 1727-18°3 (Frontispiece) (I) Born in Boston. Assisted his father, a tallow chan­ Born in Scotland. University of Aberdeen, A.M., dler and soap boiler, in his business from 1716 to 1747. Agent of the Society for Propagation of the 1718. Apprenticed to his brother James, a printer, Gospel. Came to New York, 1751. Wrote in 1753 A 1718-23. Came to Philadelphia in 1723, where he General Idea of the College of Mirania of which he worked for the printer Sam Keimer until he went to sent copies to Benjamin Franklin and the Rev. Lmdon to continue learning his trade in 1724-26. Richard Peters who were Trustees of the Academy He returned to Philadelphia and became an inde­ and Charitable School in Philadelphia. Invited to pendent printer in 1730, and was noted for his pub­ visit the school and in June wrote A Poem on Visit­ lications, especially Poor Richard's Almanack. In ing the Academy of Philadelphia. Returned to Eng­ 1736 he was chosen clerk of the Assembly, which posi­ land to be made priest of the Church of England. In tion he held until 1751. In 1737 he was made postmas­ 1755 the Academy was chartered as the College of ter at Philadelphia. In 1754 he was sent to the Albany Philadelphia and Smith was appointed Provost, Convention where he submitted a plan for colonial which position he held until 1779 when the College unity. He provisioned Braddock's army and in 1756 became the University of the State of Pennsylvania; was put in charge of the northwestern frontier of the resumed his position in 1789, when the College was province by the Governor. Twice he was sent to restored, until 1791 when it was merged with the London as agent for the Assembly, 1757-62 and 1764­ University of the State of Pennsylvania and a new 75. With the outbreak of the Revolution, he was charter issued in the name of the University of Penn­ sent as Commissioner to France, 1776-85, and in 1781 sylvania. Received an honorary D.D. from Oxford was on the commission to make peace with Great and Aberdeen in 1759 and from Dublin in 1763. Britain. He believed in the reasonableness of man Member of the American Philosophical Society, 1768. and that the phenomena of nature should serve him, In 1785 worked on the American prayerbook. The for Franklin's primary interest was in the improve­ Maryland Convention of 1783 elected him Bishop, ment of the condition of mankind. This led him but the election was not confirmed by the General to help organize a police force, a fire company, a hos­ Convention. pital, to improve the lighting and paving of Phila­ delphia, to start the American Philosophical Society 42V2 x 56V2. Signed: E. D. Marchant after Stuart for Promoting Useful Knowledge, to be interested in I87I. College Hall. the establishment of the charity school in 1740, to write in 1749 Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pensilvania which led to the formation of the Academy which was chartered in 1755 as the Col­ DAVIn RITTENHOUSE lege of Philadelphia and united with the University 1732- 1796 of the State of Pennsylvania in the charter of 1791 as (2) the University of Pennsylvania. Born at Paper Mill Run in what is now German­ Oval 25~ x I9V2. Signed: ]. F. De Lhospital pinx town, Philadelphia. Self-taught, he early showed I775· College Hall.· mathematical and mechanical ability, and mastered 36~ x ]8V2. Artist unknown. College Hall. Newton's Principia in an English translation. At nineteen started an instrument shop on his father's THOMAS McKEAN farm at Norriton where he showed great skill in 1734-181 7 clock-mending. In 1763-64 worked on the boundary survey of Pennsylvania. Made an orrery, which is Born in Chester, Pa. Studied under the Rev. Francis now in the Founder's Room in the Library, which Alison and read law with David Finney at New­ shows the solar and lunar eclipses and other phe­ castle, Del. Appointed Deputy Attorney-General to nomena for a period of 5,000 years either forward or prosecute in the County of Sussex, 1756. Admitted to backward. Observed the transit of Venus of 1769 and the bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1757. discovered a planet in 1793. Came to Philadelphia In 1762 was selected with Caesar Rodney to print in 1770. Engineer of the Committee of Safety, 1775; and revise laws enacted since 1752.