William Staughton

William Staughton (January 4, 1770 – December 12, 1829) was a Baptist clergyman, educator, and music composer. He was also a Chaplain of the United States Senate and the first President of Columbian College from 1821-1827, which is the original name and oldest division (1821) of The George Washington University.

Staughton was born on January 4, 1770 in Coventry, Warwickshire, England to Sutton and Keziah Staughton. In 1792, he graduated from Bristol Baptist College. He became a preacher in Northampton, and in 1793 helped found the Baptist Missionary Society.

Staughton moved to Charleston, South Carolina in 1793. After marrying Maria Hanson shortly after his arrival, he preached in Georgetown, South Carolina for approximately two years. In 1795, Staughton moved to York City and then to Bordentown, New Jersey, where he preached at a Baptist church, headed an academy, and was ordained a Baptist minister on June 17, 1797. He continued his educational studies at Princeton University and received a Doctor of Divinity in 1801. From 1805 to 1811, Staughton fulfilled pastorship positions at the First Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1805-1811) and the Sansom Street Church (1811-1822). Concurrently, Staughton also acted as the designated tutor of the Baptist Education Society of America of the Middle States, was one of the founding members of the Bible Society at Philadelphia (now known as the Pennsylvania Bible Society), helped organize the Triennial Convention from 1814-1826, and served as the Principal of the Theological Department of the Triennial Convention in 1817.

When the Columbian College opened on January 9, 1822, William Staughton presided as President. He also taught theological and classical courses at the College, including General History, Belles Lettres, Rhetoric, Moral Philosophy and Divinity, and Pulpit Eloquence. During his tenure as President, Staughton simultaneously served as Chaplain of the Congress for two session. After five years serving as President, Staughton resigned due to the College's financial troubles and dispute among the Board of Trustees regarding the Theology and Classic Departments.

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