The New Student's Reference Work/Washington and Lee University

Washington and Lee Univer′sity, located at Lexington, Va., was chartered in 1782 as Liberty Hall Academy. The first important gift of property to the school was made by George Washington in 1796. In recognition of this benefaction the name of the school was changed to Washington Academy, which later became Washington College. At the close of the Civil War Gen. Robert E. Lee was elected president of the college, and was installed on Oct. 2, 1865. This position he held until his death, Oct. 12, 1870. In 1871 the general assembly of Virginia changed the name of the institution to Washington and Lee University. It now has a faculty of 31, with 400 students in attendance.