Robert Ryland (March 14, 1805 – April 23, 1899) was the first

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

of Richmond College (now the

University of Richmond The University of Richmond (UR or U of R) is a private liberal arts college in Richmond, Virginia. It is a primarily undergraduate, residential institution with approximately 4,350 undergraduate and graduate students in five schools: the School ...

), serving from 1840 to 1866. Prior to the establishment of the college, he had served as the only superintendent of its predecessor institution, the Virginia Baptist Seminary, since 1832.History of the University of Richmond: People: Rev. Robert Ryland
/ref> Ryland served as the first pastor for the First African Baptist Church of Richmond, Virginia from 1841 to 1865. The church is a prominent Black church founded in 1841, its members initially included both slaves and freedmen. It has since had a major influence on the local black community. At one point, it was one of the largest Protestant churches in the United States. Reverend Robert Ryland owned slaves himself and believed that slavery was the best way to convert Africans to Christianity. Ryland Hall on the University of Richmond's campus is named in honor of both Robert Ryland and his nephew, Charles H. Ryland.History of the University of Richmond: Architecture: Ryland Hall
/ref>

Family

Robert Ryland was born on March 14, 1805, at Farmington Plantation in

King and Queen County, Virginia King and Queen County is a county in the U.S. state of Virginia, located in the state's Middle Peninsula on the eastern edge of the Richmond, VA metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,608. Its county seat is King and Qu ...

to Josiah and Catherine (née Peachy) Ryland. He had four brothers and two sisters. In 1830, he married Josephine Norvell, daughter of Thomas and Ann Mosby Norvell. They had two sons and two daughters before Josephine died in 1846. Robert remarried in 1848 to Elizabeth Presley "Betty" Thornton (daughter of Anthony and Ann Thornton), with whom he had three daughters.

Professional life

Ryland received both bachelor's (1826) and master's (1829) from Columbian College (now

The George Washington University , mottoeng = "God is Our Trust" , established = , type = Private federally chartered research university , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $2.8 billion (2022) , preside ...

). From 1841 to 1865, concurrent with his term as president of Richmond College, Ryland served as pastor of First African Baptist Church in Richmond. In 1868, Ryland became president of Shelbyville Female College in

Shelbyville, Kentucky Shelbyville is a list of Kentucky cities, home rule-class city in and the county seat of Shelby County, Kentucky, Shelby County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 14,045 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. History Early hist ...

. He subsequently also served as president of female colleges in New Castle and

Lexington, Kentucky Lexington is a city in Kentucky, United States that is the county seat of Fayette County, Kentucky, Fayette County. By population, it is the List of cities in Kentucky, second-largest city in Kentucky and List of United States cities by popul ...

. From 1893 until 1897, he served as chaplain of the Southwest Virginia Institute in

Bristol, Virginia Bristol is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,219. It is the twin city of Bristol, Tennessee, just across the state line, which runs down the middle of its main street, State S ...

References

External links

History of the University of Richmond: People: Rev. Robert Ryland
1805 births 1899 deaths Presidents of the University of Richmond People from Shelbyville, Kentucky People from New Castle, Kentucky People from Lexington, Kentucky American slave owners George Washington University alumni {{US-academic-administrator-stub