The Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences (1816–1838) was a literary and science institution in

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

, founded by Dr. Edward Cutbush (1772–1843), a

naval surgeon A naval surgeon, or less commonly ship's doctor, is the person responsible for the health of the ship's company aboard a warship. The term appears often in reference to Royal Navy's medical personnel during the Age of Sail. Ancient uses Speciali ...

. Thomas Law had earlier suggested of such a society "at the seat of government." It was the first "

learned society A learned society (; also learned academy, scholarly society, or academic association) is an organization that exists to promote an academic discipline, profession, or a group of related disciplines such as the arts and science. Membership m ...

" established in Washington and was organized on June 28, 1816, sixteen years after the city was occupied, and less than two years after the invasion by the British troops. The second article of its constitution states: "The Institute shall consist of mathematical, physical, moral and political sciences, general literature and fine arts."

Members

The ''honorary'' members included three presidents who were still alive during the 1820s;

John Adams John Adams (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, attorney, diplomat, writer, and Founding Father who served as the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Before his presidency, he was a leader of t ...

Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was previously the natio ...

and

James Madison James Madison Jr. (March 16, 1751June 28, 1836) was an American statesman, diplomat, and Founding Father. He served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. Madison is hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" for h ...

as well as Marquis Lafayette and Baron Cuvier, however,

John Quincy Adams John Quincy Adams (; July 11, 1767 – February 23, 1848) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, and diarist who served as the sixth president of the United States, from 1825 to 1829. He previously served as the eighth United States ...

and

Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson (March 15, 1767 – June 8, 1845) was an American lawyer, planter, general, and statesman who served as the seventh president of the United States from 1829 to 1837. Before being elected to the presidency, he gained fame as ...

were both ''resident'' members. The membership of the institute included many prominent men of the day, including representatives of the military, government service, medical, law and other professions. At least 11 of the men held the office of Mayor of Washington: *

(1767–1848), Resident member - Sixth president of the United States. *

Joseph Anderson Joseph Inslee Anderson (November 5, 1757 – April 17, 1837) was an American soldier, judge, and politician, who served as a United States Senator from Tennessee from 1797 to 1815, and later as the First Comptroller of the United States Treasur ...

(1757–1837), First Comptroller of the

United States Treasury The Department of the Treasury (USDT) is the national treasury and finance department of the federal government of the United States, where it serves as an executive department. The department oversees the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and ...

. *

James Barbour James Barbour (June 10, 1775 – June 7, 1842) was an American slave owner, lawyer, politician and planter. He served as a delegate from Orange County, Virginia in the Virginia General Assembly, and as speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates ...

(1775–1842), 18th Governor of Virginia, Served as Secretary of War. * William T. Barry (1784–1835), Kentucky House of Representatives, Served as Postmaster General. *

Simon Bernard Baron Simon Bernard (28 April 1779 – 5 November 1839) was a French general of engineers. Born in Dole, Simon Bernard was educated at the École polytechnique, graduating as second in the promotion of 1799 and entered the army in the corps of e ...

(1779–1839), French General of Engineers, U.S. Army Chief of Engineers. * John M. Berrien (1781–1856), Georgia Senator, Served as Attorney General. * Rev. Andrew Bigelow (), Minister. * James H. Blake MD (1763–1819), Practicing Physician, 3rd mayor of

* John Bomford (), Col., Chief of the Ordnance Bureau. * B. S. Bohrer MD (), Physician. * Phineas Bradley (), Assistant Postmaster General, Banker. * William A. Bradley (d.1867), Banker, Former mayor of

* Robert Brent (1763–1819), Banker, Judge of Orphans' Court, First mayor of

* William Brent (1784–1848), U.S. Reprepresentative for Louisiana. * J. A. Brereton MD (), Physician. * Rev. Obadiah B. Brown (1779–1852), Minister. *

Charles Bulfinch Charles Bulfinch (August 8, 1763 – April 15, 1844) was an early American architect, and has been regarded by many as the first American-born professional architect to practice.Baltzell, Edward Digby. ''Puritan Boston & Quaker Philadelphia''. Tra ...

(1763–1844), Architect, designed the U.S. Capitol Building. * Elias B. Caldwell (), Clerk of the Supreme Court. * John C. Calhoun (1782–1850), Secretary of War, Seventh vice president of the United States. * Rev.

John N. Campbell John Nicholson Campbell (March 4, 1798 – March 27, 1864) was a Presbyterian clergyman who served as Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives.Presbyterian Historical Society, Montreat, NC Early life Campbell was born in Philadelph ...

(1798-1864), Minister. * Thomas Carbery (1791–1863), 6th mayor of

* Overton Carr (), Banker, one of the original land holders in the federal district. * William T. Carroll (), Educator, Professor. *

Daniel Carroll Daniel Carroll (July 22, 1730May 7, 1796) was an American politician and plantation owner from Maryland and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He supported the American Revolution, served in the Confederation Congress, was a de ...

(1730–1796), Banker from Duddington, politician and one of the Founding Fathers of the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

.. * Nathaniel P. Causin (1761–1827), Judge of the Orphans' Court. * Rev. Ira Chase (), Minister. *

Matthew St. Clair Clarke Matthew St. Clair Clarke (1790 Greencastle, Franklin County, Pennsylvania - May 6, 1852 Washington, D.C.) was an American journalist, book author and politician. He was for seven terms Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Life ...

(1790-1852),

Clerk of the United States House of Representatives The Clerk of the United States House of Representatives is an officer of the United States House of Representatives, whose primary duty is to act as the chief record-keeper for the House. Along with the other House officers, the Clerk is elec ...

. * Henry Clay (1777–1852), Served as Secretary of State from 1825 to 1829. * John Coyle, Jr. (), Secretary of the Howard Society. * William Cranch (1769–1855), Chief Justice of the Circuit Court. *

William H. Crawford William Harris Crawford (February 24, 1772 – September 15, 1834) was an American politician and judge during the early 19th century. He served as US Secretary of War and US Secretary of the Treasury before he ran for US president in the 1824 ...

(1772–1834), Served as Secretary of War and Treasury, Candidate for president in 1824. * Edward Cutbush, M.D. (1772–1843), Naval surgeon and founder of the Columbian Institution and Geneva Medical College. * Nathanial Cutting (), Civilian, unknown. * Asbury Dickins (1817-1838), Chief Clerk of the Treasury Department and

Secretary of the United States Senate The secretary of the Senate is an officer of the United States Senate. The secretary supervises an extensive array of offices and services to expedite the day-to-day operations of that body. The office is somewhat analogous to that of the clerk ...

. Served as Secretary of the Institute from 1818 to 1838. * Mahlon Dickerson (1770–1853), Governor of New Jersey, Served as Secretary of the Navy. * William Elliot (), Clerk in the Patent Office. * Jonathan Elliot (historian) (1784-1846), Writer, publisher or editor. * Samuel Elliot, Jr. (), Vice president of the Washington Botanical Society. * Philip Richard Fendall (1794–1868), Banker, lawyer and editor. *

Peter Force Peter Force (November 26, 1790 – January 23, 1868) was an American politician, newspaper editor, printer, archivist, and early American historian. He was twice elected the twelfth Mayor of Washington D.C. During his lifetime he ama ...

(1790–1868), Publisher, Former mayor of

* Joseph Gales Jr. (1786–1860), Journalist, Former mayor of

* George Gibson (), General in U.S. Army. * James S. Gunnell MD (), Physician. * Rev. Ralph Randolph Gurley (1797-1872), Minister - Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives for the 21st and 22nd Congresses and again for the 30th and 31st * George Hadfield (1763-1826), Architect, worked on the design of the U.S. Capitol building. * Benjamin Hallowell (), Educator. * Col.

Archibald Henderson Archibald Henderson (January 21, 1783 – January 6, 1859) was the longest-serving Commandant of the Marine Corps, serving from 1820 to 1859. His name is learned by all recruits at Marine recruit training (Boot Camp) as the "Grand old man of th ...

(1783–1859), Commandant of the Marine Corps, serving from 1820 to 1859, later in Washington Monument Society. * William Hewitt (), Register of Washington. *

James Hoban James Hoban (1755 – December 8, 1831) was an Irish-American architect, best known for designing the White House. Life James Hoban was a Roman Catholic raised on Desart Court estate belonging to the Earl of Desart near Callan, County Kilkenny ...

(1758–1831), Irish Architect, designed the White House. * Benjamin Homans (), Chief Clerk of the Navy Department. * Rev. Dr. Andrew Hunter (), Minister. * Henry Huntt MD (), First Health Officer of Washington. * Samuel D. Ingham (1779–1860), Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Served as Secretary of Treasury. * George E. Ironsides (), Educator. *

(1767–1845), Resident member - Seventh president of the United States. * Thomas P. Jones (1774–1848), Superintendent and

examiner Examiner or The Examiner may refer to: Occupations * Bank examiner, a kind of auditor * Examiner (Roman Catholicism), a type of office in the Roman Catholic Church * Examinership, a concept in Irish law * Medical examiner * Patent examiner * Tr ...

of the

United States Patent and Trademark Office The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is an agency in the U.S. Department of Commerce that serves as the national patent office and trademark registration authority for the United States. The USPTO's headquarters are in Alex ...

. * Walter Jones (congressman) (1745–1815), District Attorney and Major General of the District Militia. * Robert King (), City of Washington, D.C., Surveyor. * Samuel L. Knapp (1783-1838), Writer, publisher or editor. * William Lambert (writer) (), Congressional clerk, engrosser of the Bill of Rights, Clerk of the Pension Office. *

Samuel Lane Samuel Lane (1780–1859) was an English portrait-painter. Life The son of Samuel and Elizabeth Lane, he was born at King's Lynn on 26 July 1780. After a childhood accident he became deaf and partially dumb. He studied under Joseph Farington ...

(), Col., Commissioner of Public Buildings. * Benjamin Henry Latrobe (1764-1820), Architect - Designed the

United States Capitol The United States Capitol, often called The Capitol or the Capitol Building, is the seat of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, which is formally known as the United States Congress. It is located on Capitol Hill ...

. * Rev.

James Laurie James Laurie (May 9, 1811 – March 16, 1875) was a prominent American engineer and one of the founders of American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). He performed surveying, bridge design, and route design for a number of railroads in New Englan ...

(), Minister, First President of the Washington Botanical Society. * Edmund Law (), unknown. * John Law (), Lawyer, son of Thomas Law. * Thomas Law (1756–1834), Judge and beneficent Magistrate, district of Bahar, India. * Benjamin L. Lear (), unknown. *

Tobias Lear Tobias Lear (September 19, 1762 – October 11, 1816) was the personal secretary to President George Washington. Lear served Washington from 1784 until the former-President's death in 1799. Lear's journal details Washington's final moments and his ...

(1762–1816), Private Secretary of George Washington. *

Richard Bland Lee Richard Bland Lee (January 20, 1761March 12, 1827) was an American planter, jurist, and politician from Fairfax County, Virginia. He was the son of Henry Lee II (1730–1787) of "Leesylvania" and Lucy Grymes (1734–1792), as well as a younger b ...

(1761–1827), Judge of the Orphans' Court. * Robert Little (Reverend) (1762–1827), Unitarian minister, Founder and pastor; First Unitarian Church in Washington. *

Joseph Lovell Dr. Joseph Lovell (December 22, 1788 – October 17, 1836) was the 8th Surgeon General of the United States Army, (April 18, 1818 – October 17, 1836), Family He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of James S. and Deborah (Gorham) Lovel ...

(1788–1836), Surgeon General U.S. Army. * Alexander Macomb (American general) (1782–1841), General in U.S. Army. * Frederick May MD (), Physician. * George May MD (), Physician. * Rev. William Matthews (), Minister, Founder of St. Vincent's Orphan Asylum. * John McClelland (), Washington Monument Society. *

John McLean John McLean (March 11, 1785 – April 4, 1861) was an American jurist and politician who served in the United States Congress, as U.S. Postmaster General, and as a justice of the Ohio and U.S. Supreme Courts. He was often discussed for t ...

(1785–1861), Served as Postmaster General, Justice U.S. Supreme Court. * Alexander McWilliams MD (), Physician, Surgeon in Navy. * Joseph Mechlin (), unknown. *

Josiah Meigs Josiah Meigs (August 21, 1757 – September 4, 1822) was an American academic, journalist and government official. He was the first acting president of the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens, where he implemented the university's first physic ...

(1757–1822), Surveyor-general of the United States, one of original founders and trustees of Columbian College (now

George Washington University The George Washington University (GW or GWU) is a Private university, private University charter#Federal, federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C. Chartered in 1821 by the United States Congress, GWU is the largest Higher educat ...

Robert Mills (architect) Robert Mills (August 12, 1781 – March 3, 1855) was a South Carolina architect known for designing both the first Washington Monument, located in Baltimore, Maryland, as well as the better known monument to the first president in the nation's ...

(1781–1855), Architect, designed the Washington Monument. * Thomas Munroe (), Postmaster. * William Nolan (), Major U.S. Army, Commissioner of Public Buildings. * Rev. Isaac Orr (), Minister. * Joel R. Poinsett (1779–1851), Served as Secretary of War. * William Prout (), City Hall Erection Committee. * Richard Randall MD (), Physician. *

Daniel Rapine Daniel Rapine (June 11, 1768 – July 28 or July 29, 1826) was the second mayor of Washington, D.C., elected by the city council in June 1812 and serving for one year. History Rapine was a bookseller, printer and politician. He move to Wa ...

(1768–1826), Publisher, 2nd Mayor of

Washington, DC ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan ...

. * Isaac Roberdeau (), Surveyor in L'Enfant's Corp. * John Rodgers (naval officer, War of 1812) (1772–1838), Commodore U.S. Navy. * Richard Rush (1780–1859), Attorney General and Secretary of Treasury, Son of

Benjamin Rush Benjamin Rush (April 19, 1813) was a Founding Father of the United States who signed the United States Declaration of Independence, and a civic leader in Philadelphia, where he was a physician, politician, social reformer, humanitarian, educa ...

who signed Declaration of Independence. * Rudolph Schaer (), Educator. *

William Winston Seaton William Winston Seaton (January 11, 1785 – June 16, 1866) was an American journalist and the thirteenth Mayor of Washington, D.C. Life He was born in King William County, Virginia. From 1812 until 1860 he was, with his brother-in-law Joseph ...

(1785–1866), Publisher, Former mayor of

* Thomas Sewall MD (1786-1845), Physician. * John T. Shaaf MD (), Physician. * Thomas Sims MD (), Physician. * Samuel L. Southard (1787–1842), Served as Secretary of the Navy, 10th Governor of New Jersey. * Rev. Dr. William Staughton (1770–1829),

Chaplain of the United States Senate The chaplain of the United States Senate opens each session of the United States Senate with a prayer, and provides and coordinates religious programs and pastoral care support for senators, their staffs, and their families. The chaplain is appoi ...

, Minister, First President of Columbian College. * John Stretch (), Director of the Washington Library Company. * Col. William Tatham (), Possessor of important scientific library. *

Pishey Thompson Pishey Thompson (1784–1862) was an English publisher and antiquarian writer, known as a historian of Boston, Lincolnshire. He spent the years 1819 to 1846 in the United States. Life Thompson was born at Peachey Hall, Freiston, near Boston, Linco ...

(), Writer, publisher or editor. *

William Thornton William Thornton (May 20, 1759 – March 28, 1828) was a British-American physician, inventor, painter and architect who designed the United States Capitol. He also served as the first Architect of the Capitol and first Superintendent of the ...

MD (1759–1828), Commissioner of Patents, Physician, Architect - designed the U.S. Capitol. * Thomas Tingey (1750–1829), Commodore U.S. Navy, Washington Naval Yard. * Nathan Towson (1784–1854), U.S. Army, Major-General, Paymaster General. * John M. Thomas MD (), Physician. * Buckner Thurston (1764–1845), U.S. Federal Judge. * Thomas L. Thurston (), Librarian of the Department of State. * John Underwood (), Civilian, unknown. *

John Peter Van Ness Johannes Petrus "John Peter" Van Ness (November 4, 1769 – March 7, 1846) was an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1801 to 1803 and Mayor of Washington, D.C. from 1830 to 1834. Early life Van Nes ...

(1770–1846), Banker, General of the District Militia, Former mayor of

Richard Wallach Richard Wallach (April 3, 1816 – March 4, 1881) was an American politician who served as the nineteenth and first Republican Mayor of Washington, D.C. History Wallach was born in Alexandria, Virginia in 1816, when it was still part of the Di ...

(1816–1881), Former mayor of

(first Republican). * Bailey Washington MD (), American Naval Officer. * Tobias Watkins MD (1780-1855), Fourth Auditor of the

, writer, editor, and physician * George Watterston (1783-1854), Writer, Librarian of the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library ...

, a member of the city councils and trustee of the public schools. * Roger C. Weightman (1787–1876), Former mayor of

Charles Wilkes Charles Wilkes (April 3, 1798 – February 8, 1877) was an American naval officer, ship's captain, and explorer. He led the United States Exploring Expedition (1838–1842). During the American Civil War (1861–1865), he commanded ' during the ...

(1798–1877), American Naval Officer and Explorer. * Timothy Winn (), One of the incorporators of the Navy Yard Bridge Company. * William Wirt (Attorney General) (1772–1834), Author, Served as Attorney General. * Nicholas Worthington MD (), Physician.

References

External links

United States Botanical Garden

Constitutional ordinance for the government of the Columbian Institute, October 11, 1820
{{authority control 1816 establishments in Washington, D.C. Learned societies of the United States 1838 disestablishments in the United States