First Meeting of the Corporation, Newport

At the first meeting of the Corporation that would run the new college, members were sworn in and the business of fundraising rose to the fore. Among the organization’s members were Nicholas Brown, one of four Brown brothers and father of future college namesake Nicholas Brown, Jr. At the meeting, Rhode Island Governor Stephen Hopkins (who would be a signer of the Declaration of Independence) was elected Chancellor. The selection of a college president would not be addressed until their second meeting.