The Men of Lafayette, 1826-1893
Lafayette College, Its History, Its Men, Their Record
Selden J. Coffin 1891
Easton
Rev. George Wilson McPhail, D.D., was born in Norfolk, Va., in 1816. He
spent two years at Hampden Sidney College, Va., then entered Yale and graduated in 1835.
He pursued his theological studies at Hampden Sidney. His first charge was in Cumberland county,
Va., from which place he removed to Fredericksburg, where, in addition to his pastoral duties, he conducted very successfully a female
seminary. In 1854 he was called to Easton as the first pastor of the Brainerd Church.
In October, 1857, he was elected President of Lafayette College, which place he occupied till 1863, when he resigned, and became connected
with Professor Saunders' Seminary, Philadelphia. At the close of the war he returned to Norfolk,
Va., and soon after, accepted the Presidency of Davidson College, N. C., where he
remained until his death, which was very sudden, occurring on commencement day, June 28th,
1871. The honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred on him by Jefferson
College, in 1857. He was a true scholar, an able preacher, and a warm-hearted, Christian gentleman.
McPhail
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