William Linn (clergyman)

The Reverend William Linn
2nd President of Rutgers University
In office 1791–1795
Preceded by	Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh
Succeeded by	Ira Condict
1st Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives
In office May 1, 1789 – December 10, 1790
Preceded by	position created
Succeeded by	Samuel Blair
Personal details
Born	(1752-02-27)February 27, 1752 Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
Died	January 8, 1808(1808-01-08) (aged 55) Albany, New York
Education	College of New Jersey (now Princeton; A.B., 1772)
Profession	Presbyterian minister

William Linn (February 27, 1752 – January 8, 1808) was an American Presbyterian minister and the second President of Queen's College (now Rutgers University), serving in a pro tempore capacity from 1791 to 1795. He was also the first Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives.

Biography

He was born on February 27, 1752, on Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.

William Linn graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) with a Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) in 1772, and was ordained by the Donegal Presbytery in 1775. After serving as a chaplain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, Linn served as a minister and a teacher before being appointed a Trustee of Queen's College in 1787. After the death of the Reverend Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh in 1790 the Board of Trustees appointed Linn to serve as President pro tempore of Queen's College in 1791. During this time, the college fell into financial trouble, and temporarily closed its doors in 1795. Linn served for twenty-one years as a Regent of the University of the State of New York and died in 1808. In 1789 he was elected the first Chaplain of the House of Representatives.

He died on January 8, 1808, in Albany, New York.