- James Kennedy Patterson
James Kennedy Patterson (
26 March 1833 -15 August 1922 ) was a life-long academic and the first president of theUniversity of Kentucky .Patterson was born in
Scotland but spent his life in theUnited States . He attendedHanover College and went on to receive first aB.A. in 1856 and then also an M.A. in 1859. He taught for several years at the Presbyterian Academy inGreenville, Kentucky . He later moved toStewart College inClarksville, Tennessee . At the outbreak of the Civil War, Patterson came toLexington, Kentucky to assume the position of principal ofTransylvania University , which at the time was ahigh school . In 1865, Transylvania merged with Kentucky University and the newly formed Agricultural and Mechanical College to form the State University of Kentucky (the modern-dayUniversity of Kentucky ). Patterson was appointed the first president of the newly established university in 1869. He administrated the university for over four decades until his retirement in 1910. He died in peace in 1922 and was buried in the Lexington Cemetery.As UK's first and longest-serving president, Patterson left an enormous mark on the university. He sheparded the institution through its uncertain formative years, and saw enrolment increase and the campus flourish during his tenure. Patterson Hall, the first women's dormitory at the University of Kentucky (now co-ed), was named in his honor. Later, the main administrative complex in central campus was similarly named Patterson Office Tower. Finally, in his final bequest, Patterson left the bulk of his estate to establish a new school -- the
Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce .External links
*cite book |last=Smith |first=William Benjamin |title=James Kennedy Patterson, pater universitatis Kentuckionsis : his career, his achievements, his personality |url=http://kdl.kyvl.org/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=kyetexts;cc=kyetexts;q1=edward%20rumsey;idno=b92-273-32007204;view=toc |accessdate=2008-09-22
* [http://www.uky.edu/Biography/patterson-james-kennedy.html JK Patterson biography found on UK's website]
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