Chancellor of the College of William & Mary

The Chancellor of the College of William and Mary is the ceremonial head of the College, chosen by the university's Board of Visitors. The office has existed since William and Mary's founding in 1693 and Henry Compton, Bishop of London served as the college's first Chancellor. The incumbent is former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Sandra Day O'Connor.

Origin

The College's charter, granted in 1693 by King William III and Queen Mary II, provided for the office of Chancellor:

"XI. And further, we will, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, do grant and confirm, to the said President, and Masters, or Professors of the said college, and their successors, that they and their successors shall have one eminent and discreet person, to be elected and nominated, in the manner hereafter expressed, who shall be, and shall be called chancellor of the said college."

Colonial Period

During the colonial period, the Chancellor served as the College's representative to the British Crown and the British Government. Considering William and Mary's unique status as the only college in the colonies to be established by Royal Charter, the office of Chancellor usually alternated between either the Bishop of London or the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Post-Independence

Following American Independence, George Washington served as Chancellor, an office he held from 1788 until his death in 1789. The office remained vacant until another President of the United States, John Tyler was appointed as Chancellor, serving from 1859 until 1862. Tyler was an alumnus of the College and one of his relatives would later serve as its President.

Chancellors were appointed intermittently during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, but the office has been occupied regularly since the 1940s. In recent years, Chancellors have served seven years in their position, but this is not a requirement. Among the distinguished twentieth century individuals to have held the office of Chancellor are former Chief Justice of the United States Warren Burger, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Margaret Thatcher, and former United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

Functions

The Chancellor serves as the ceremonial head of the College and is elected by the Board of Visitors of the College of William and Mary. The Board of Visitors, led by the Rector of the College, determines university policy, levys tuition, and appoints a President of the College to serve as chief executive officer and manage the day-to-day affairs of the university. The Chancellor is present for major campus events, including commencement and Charter Day, celebrated every February on the anniversary of the College's founding by King William and Queen Mary. During major ceremonies, the Chancellor wears the robe, badge, and chain of office.

List of Chancellors

• 1693-1700 Henry Compton, Bishop of London
• 1700-1707 Thomas Tenison, Archbishop of Canterbury
• 1707-1713 Henry Compton, Bishop of London
• 1714-1721 John Robinson, Bishop of London
• 1721-1729 William Wake, Archbishop of Canterbury
• 1729-1736 Edmund Gibson, Bishop of London
• 1736-1737 William Wake, Archbishop of Canterbury
• 1737-1748 Edmund Gibson, Bishop of London
• 1749-1761 Thomas Sherlock, Bishop of London
• 1762-1762 Thomas Hayter, Bishop of London
• 1762-1763 Charles Wyndham, Earl of Egremont
• 1764-1764 Phillip Yorke, Earl of Hardwicke
• 1764-1776 Richard Terrick, Bishop of London
• 1788-1799 George Washington, 1st President of the United States
• 1859-1862 John Tyler, 10th President of the United States
• 1871-1881 Hugh Blair Grigsby, Historian
• 1942-1944 John Stewart Bryan, 19th Presdient of the College of William and Mary
• 1946-1947 Colgate W. Darden, Jr., 54th Governor of Virginia
• 1962-1974 Alvin Duke Chandler, 21st President of the College of William and Mary
• 1986-1993 Warren E. Burger, 15th Chief Justice of the United States
• 1993-2000 Margaret, the Lady Thatcher, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
• 2000-2005 Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, 56th United States Secretary of State
• 2005-Pres Sandra Day O'Connor, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States