Washington College chartered by Pennsylvania

Background. Washington College traces its origins to log cabin colleges established by Presbyterian missionaries in the 1780s. Washington Academy was initially chartered in 1787 but lacked faculty and facilities. In 1806, Matthew Brown petitioned the Pennsylvania General Assembly to grant a charter allowing the academy to be re-christened as Washington College, formalizing its institutional status in Washington, Pennsylvania.

Charter Process. The Pennsylvania General Assembly granted the charter for Washington College in 1806, following Matthew Brown's petition. This action distinguished Washington College from its rival, Jefferson College, which had been reconstituted in 1802. The charter solidified the institution's presence in Washington, a city in Washington County, Pennsylvania, which later became home to the merged college.

Legacy and Merger. Washington College remained a distinct institution until 1865, when it merged with Jefferson College to form Washington & Jefferson College. The merger was driven by financial and student shortages following the Civil War. The modern college's seal commemorates the 1806 charter of Washington College alongside the 1802 charter of Jefferson College.