Benjamin Hallowell (August 17, 1799 - September , 1877)

As a prominent educator in Maryland andVirginia, Benjamin Hallowell was an enthusiastic member of Baltimore Yearly Meeting's Committee on Education, and worked tirelessly to support the establishment of Swarthmore College.

Throughout his life of teaching, Benjamin Hallowell was a well-respected educator. His career began at the Hallowell was a well-respected teacher. His career began at the Fair Hill School in Mechanicsville, (Olney), Maryland, then at Westtown Boarding School in Pennsylvania. In 1824, Hallowell founded a preparatory school in Alexandria Virginia, where he also gave evening lectures to adults and private lessons to girls. By 1830 the Alexandria Boarding School was successful, with many students from the families of Congressmen, Cabinet members, and other prominent citizens. Robert E. Lee was one of those students. In 1842, Hallowell turned over the school to his nephews and moved to Rockland, Maryland, where he became a farmer. He resumed management of the Alexandria school in 1846 to run the School until it was sold in 1858. In 1859, he became president of the Maryland Agricultural College, which was to grow into the University of Maryland, and Hallowell is recognized as the first president of the University of Maryland. Hallowell was an active member of the Indian Committee of Baltimore Yearly Meeting in the 1860's and 1870's.

Text prepared by Beth Bartle
Last update: 6/9/02