The College of William & Mary, over 300 years old, was the first college planned for the United States. Its roots go back to the College proposed at Henrico in 1619. An Indian attack on March 22, 1622, in which at least 347 people were killed, caused the plan to be temporarily abandoned. The College is second only to Harvard University in actual operation.

• The College of William and Mary was the first American college to receive its charter from the Crown under the Seal of the Privy Council, February 8, 1693. Thereafter it was known as "their Majesties Royal College of William and Mary."
• The College of William and Mary was the first and only American college to receive a Coat-of-Arms from the College of Heralds (1694).
• The College of William and Mary was the first college in the United States to have a full Faculty consisting of a President, six Professors, usher, and writing master (1729).
• The College of William and Mary was the first college to confer medallic prizes (the gold medals donated by Lord Botetourt in 1771).
• The College of William and Mary was the birthplace of the first inter-collegiate fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa (December 5, 1776).
• The College of William and Mary was the first college to have the elective system of study (1779).
• The College of William and Mary was the first college to have an honor system (1779).
• The College of William and Mary was the first college to become a university (1779).
• The College of William and Mary was the first college to have a school of modern languages (1779).
• The College of William and Mary was the first college to offer professional training in the law (1779).
• The College of William and Mary was the first college to teach political economy (1784).
• The College of William and Mary was the first college to have a school of modern history (1803).
• The College of William and Mary was the first college to have a course in the fine arts.

The College is often visited by internationally famous figures. In recent years, visitors have included poet Maya Angelou, Prince Charles, former President Bush and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

Margaret, The Lady Thatcher held the position of Chancellor of the College of William and Mary from 1993 - 2000. The previous Chancellor was Warren Burger, former Chief Justice of the United States, whose library of papers were given to the university. Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, former United States Secretary of State and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize (1973) was appointed the 22nd Chancellor in 2000.

The Wren Building, the first and central structure of the original College buildings, is the oldest academic structure in continuous use in America. Designed by England's best known architect, Sir Christopher Wren, three early presidents--Jefferson, Monroe, and Tyler--were educated within its walls. The Wren building was constructed in 1695, partially destroyed by fire three times, and renovated several times. It was the seat of the colonial government from 1700-1704. From 1781 to 1782 it was used as a hospital for French soldiers, and during the Civil War it was occupied by both the Confederate soldiers as a barracks and later by the Union troops as a hospital. It has been restored to its 1716-1859 appearance in keeping with the historical period of the city of Williamsburg.

In 1779, at the urging of Thomas Jefferson, the first Chair of Law in America was established at the College of William and Mary.

George Wythe, occupant of the first Chair of Law, became a powerful force in the development of American legal education. During his professorship, Wythe developed a comprehensive course of law study which emphasized the acquisition of practical skills - a goal continued today with the development of our Legal Skills Program. Wythe was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a member of the Constitutional Convention. His students included Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, Henry Clay and John Marshall.

Though nationally known as the College of William and Mary School of Law, the law school was named the Marshall-Wythe School of Law to honor both George Wythe, occupant of the first Chair of Law, and John Marshall.

The College of William and Mary became a state-supported institution at the turn of the century and has consistently been ranked among the best universities in the nation.

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