Andrew Hunter Holmes and the "Great Rebellion" at Princeton-- Part 1

From the William and Mary Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 16, 1908.

The "Great Rebellion" at Princeton took place on March 31, 1807.  On April 1, 1807, one of the expelled students was one Abel P. Upshur, of Virginia, who later became Secretary of State of the United States.  Five other "rioters" were from Virginia like him, including Andrew Hunter Holmes.

Andrew Holmes was born in 1789, and attended Princeton and William and Mary.  he was a lawyer in New Orleans when the War of 1812 began and was killed at the 1814 Battle of Mackinac.

--Brock-Perry

Princeton's Nassau Hall

From Wikipedia.

The rebellious students in 1807, took refuge initially in Nassau Hall.  It is the oldest building at Princeton University.  When originally built in 1756, it was the largest building in colonial New Jersey and the largest academic building in all of the American colonies.

The university, then known as the College of New Jersey first held classes for a year in Elizabeth and then nine more at Newark before locating to Princeton.

During the American Revolution it was possessed both by the British and Americans and received considerable damage during the January 3, 1777, Battle of Princeton.

From July to October 1783, Princeton was the capital of the United States and Nassau Hall hosted the American government.  It presently houses the Princeton administration.

--Brock-Perry

"The Great Rebellion" at Princeton in 1807-- Part 4: "Sign of Moral Decay"

From Wikipedia.

Princeton President Samuel Stanhope Smith's administration was characterized by little or no faculty-student rapport or communication, crowded conditions and strict adherence to rules.  These led to a student uprising during the winter semester 31 March-1 April 1807.

Smith denounced the students as a sign of moral decay.

Also, back then Princeton was called the College of New Jersey.

Geez, Even back Then.  --Brock-Perry

"The Great Rebellion" at Princeton in 1807-- Part 3: Aftermath

The students then barricaded themselves into Nassau Hall.  The trustees called on the militia to evict them, but the students beat the soldiers back with stones and broken banisters.  President Smith then shut down the college.

The protesting students then moved to the town and vowed never to return to school  One of the protesters was John C. Breckinridge.  He was the son of U.S. Attorney general John Breckinridge and father of U.S. vice president John C. Breckinridge.

Taking a piece of the American Revolution, they formed a Committee of Correspondence to address their grievances.

Eventually it all calmed down and 55 of the rebels returned, but the main leaders were expelled.

Student Unrest, Even back Then.  --Brock-Perry