Washington and Lee University is led by a president selected by the Board of Trustees. The university was founded in 1749 as Augusta Academy. It later became Liberty Hall Academy (1782), Washington Academy (1798), Washington College (1813), and finally Washington and Lee University (1871). The office of president was not created until 1782.
Presidents The following persons have served as president of Washington and Lee University:
ImageChancellorTerm startTerm endPrincipals of Augusta Academy (1749–1776)1Robert Alexander174917622John Brown17621776Principal of Liberty Hall Academy (1782–1796)3William Graham 17761796Rector of Liberty Hall Academy (1782–1796)4Samuel Legrande Campbell17961799Rector of Washington Academy (1798–1813)5Rev. George A. Baxter17991829Presidents of Washington College (1813–1871)actingRev. Henry Ruffner182918306Louis Marshall18301834actingRev. Henry Ruffner183418347Henry Vethake183418368Rev. Henry Ruffner183618489Rev. George Junkin1848April 186110Robert E. Lee1865October 12, 1870 Presidents of Washington and Lee University (1871–present)11George Washington Custis Lee 1871189712William Lyne Wilson1897October 17, 1900actingHenry St. George Tucker III1900190114George H. Denny19011911 acting Henry D. Campbell19111912acting John L. Campbell Jr.1911191215Henry L. Smith19121929actingRobert H. Tucker1930193017Francis Pendleton Gaines1930195918Fred C. Cole1959August 31, 1967 actingWilliam Webb Pusey IIISeptember 1, 1967February 4, 196820Robert E. R. HuntleyFebruary 5, 1968January 14, 198321John Delane WilsonJanuary 15, 1983June 30, 199522John William ElrodJuly 1, 1995July 27 2001actingH. Laurent Boetsch Jr.August 3, 2001June 30, 200224Thomas Gerard BurishJuly 1, 2002August 14, 2005 actingHarlan Ray BeckleyAugust 15, 2005June 30, 200626Kenneth Patrick RuscioJuly 1, 2006December 31, 201627William C. DudleyJanuary 1, 2017June 30, 2026actingKenneth Patrick RuscioJuly 1, 2026pending
Table notes:
References
History of Washington and Lee's Presidents