William Holland Wilmer

From Special Collections Research Center Wiki

After the contentious tenure of Dr. John Augustine Smith, Dr. William Holland Wilmer became the eleventh president of the College of William and Mary. In searching for a new president and professor of moral philosophy, the Board of Visitors returned to the tradition of selecting Episcopal ministers.

Rev. Wilmer, rector at St. Paul’s in Alexandria, had been involved with earlier efforts to revive the chair of theology and establish an Episcopal theological seminary. When plans faltered at William and Mary, Wilmer instructed students at seminary founded in Alexandria. As the Second Great Awakening revived the Episcopal Church in Virginia, Wilmer’s standing grew. Upon Smith’s resignation from the presidency, Bishop of Virginia Richard Channing Moore sought to reaffirm the connection between the college and church. Moore began actively petitioning the Board of Visitors to elect Rev. Wilmer, and contacted Wilmer to ensure his acceptance of any offer. On October 16, 1826, the Board invited Wilmer to accept his election as president, in response Wilmer accepted, believing “a call from heaven to the presidency of William and Mary.”

With a clergyman again the president, semiweekly prayer meetings in private homes and crusades of conversion replaced Williamsburg’s formal balls and horse racing. A popular minister of stature and undoubted piety, Wilmer became enormously popular at the school and in the community. The future appeared brighter, until a series of events brought a renewed period of uncertainty and instability. Rev. Wilmer’s sudden death following the session of 1826 – 7 from “bilious fever” shocked the community, his replacement Rev. Adam Empie received unanimous election by the Board of Visitors.

Material in SCRC

• William Holland Wilmer, Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library.

Preceded by	College of William and Mary President	Succeeded by
John Augustine Smith October 1 1814 - 1826	Dr. William Holland Wilmer 1826 - 1827	Adam Empie 1827 - 1836

A note about the information in this wiki

Unfortunately, many of the early original records of the College of William and Mary were destroyed by fire, military occupation, and the normal effects of time. The information available here is the best available from known documents and sources at the time it was written. Information in this wiki is not complete as new information continues to be uncovered in the SCRC's collections and elsewhere. Researchers are strongly encouraged to use the SCRC's access tools for their research as the information contained in this wiki is by no means comprehensive.

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