Honorary Degrees and Memberships
Thomas Jefferson received a number of honorary degrees and memberships over his lifetime. These include:
- Honorary law degree from College of William and Mary (1783)
- Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Yale College (1786)
- Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Harvard University (1787)
- Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from College of Rhode Island (1787)[1]
- Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Princeton University (1791)[2]
- Honorary member of the British Board of Agriculture (1797)
- Honorary member of the American Academy of Languages & Belles Lettres (1821)
- Honorary member of the U.S. Society of Artists (1811)
Primary Source References
1783 January 20. (Honorary Degree Conferred on Jefferson by the College of William and Mary). "The president and professors of the university or College of William and Mary ... know ye that we by the sole means in our power—the conferring gladly and eagerly of the degree of doctor in the civil law—bear witness to the high opinion we hold of Thomas Jefferson, Virginian ...."[3]
1786 September 14. (Ezra Stiles to Jefferson). "I take the Liberty to inform you that, yesterday at the public anniversary Commencement in this University [Yale], the Senatus Academicus did themselves the Honor to confer upon you the Degree of Doctor in Laws."[4]
1788 September 24. (Joseph Willard to Jefferson). "I embrace the favorable opportunity ... to send your Excellency a Diploma for a Doctorate of Laws, which was conferred by Harvard University, in this place, more than a year ago ...."[5]
1797 June 21. (Sir John Sinclair to Jefferson). "I have much pleasure in acquainting you, that at the last meeting of the Board of Agriculture, you were admitted a Foreign Honorary Member of that Board, an honour to which your zeal for the improvement of agriculture so justly entitles you ...."[6]
1812 January 8. (Jefferson to Thomas Sully). "I have duly recieved your favor of Dec. 22. informing me that the Society of Artists of the US. had made me an honorary member of their society. I am very justly sensible of the honor they have done me ...."[7]
1821 January 11. (William S. Cardell to Jefferson). "Among other transactions of [the American Academy of Languages & Belles Lettres], it is made my duty, Sir, respectfully to communicate to you their unanimous election of you as an honorary member."[8]
References
- ^ Catalogus Eorum qui in Collegio Rhod. Ins. et Prov. Plant. ab Anno 1769, ad Annum 1795 alicujus Gradus Laurea donati Sunt (Providence, RI: Carter & Wilkinson, ca. 1795). Although the College of Rhode Island lists this degree in several editions of its Catalogus Eorum, there is no discussion of this degree in Jefferson's correspondence.
- ^ General Catalogue of Princeton University, 1746-1906 (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1908), 402.
- ^ PTJ, 6:221-22. Transcription available at Founders Online.
- ^ PTJ, 10:385-86. Transcription available at Founders Online.
- ^ PTJ, 13:637. Transcription available at Founders Online.
- ^ PTJ, 29:449. Transcription available at Founders Online.
- ^ PTJ:RS, 4:407. Transcription available at Founders Online.
- ^ Thomas Jefferson Papers, Library of Congress. Transcription available at Founders Online.