Robert Hett Chapman

Infobox Person
name = Robert Hett Chapman


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birth_date = birth date|1771|03|15
birth_place = Orangedale, New Jersey
death_date = death date|1883|06|18
death_place = Winchester, Virginia
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nationality = American
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known_for = 2nd President of the University of North Carolina
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alma_mater = Princeton University
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occupation = Educator, Religious Minister
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term = 1812-1816
predecessor = Joseph Caldwell
successor = Joseph Caldwell
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religion = Presbyterian
spouse = Hannah Arnett
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Robert Hett Chapman (March 15, 1771 – June 18, 1833) was a Presbyterian minister and missionary and the second president of the University of North Carolina.

Personal life

Robert Hett Chapman was born second of three children of Reverend Jedediah Chapman and his wife, Blanche Smith and was born on March 15, 1771 in Orangedale (now Orange), New Jersey. He was married to Hannah Arnett in 1797, while serving as a Presbyterian minister.

Presbyterian minister

Robert graduated from Nassau Hall, now known as Princeton University, in 1789 with his Bachelors degree in Theology. His next step would be to get his licenses with the Presbytery in New Jersey. After this he was installed as the pastor at the Presbyterian Church in Rahway, New Jersey. Robert remained in Rahway from 1796–1799.

President of the University of North Carolina

On December 12, 1812 was elected president by the Board of Trustees at The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Robert contributed to UNC in many ways such as “instituting Bible study for students and helped to establish a local church” [ November, p 1] He did not stay long at UNC. He gave in his letter of resignation on November 23, 1816 and his session ended immediately but was still given half of a years severance pay and was still allowed to stay in the house he lived in on the campus.

Later life

After resigning from UNC, he traveled as a minister and missionary throughout Virginia where he was a pastor in Leesburg, Loudon and Winchester. He also traveled some in North Carolina ans Tennessee. He “died unexpectedly of an intestinal ailment” in Winchester, Virginia on the June 18, 1833. In memory of Robert Hett Chapman there is a “framed silhouette” of him “in the North Carolina Collection, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill” [Engstrom, p 3]

References

Engstrom, Mary Claire. [http://docsouth,unc,edu/browse/bios/pn0000298_bio.html "Robert Hett Chapman."] Documenting the American South. 2004. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 9 Nov. 2007

[http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/ref/unc/ncday/browse_results_year.html?year=1816 "November 23, 1816."] UNC University of Libraries. 28 Dec. 2003. University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill. 9 Nov. 2007 [http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/ref/unc/ncday/browse_results_year.html?year=1816]

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