----------------- HES POSTING ----------------- [I posted the following to the ASK THE PROF archive after several messages on the HES list and information from Warren Samuels. Thanks to all who contributed. RBE] The first person named to a chair of political economy was Charles F. Dunbar, at Harvard College in 1871. Yale College appointed Francis A. Walker to a chair of political economy the following year. By 1890, there were 20 such chairs of political economy at colleges in the United States. Prior to 1870 (and after at many institutions), political economy was taught as a branch of moral philosophy at most North American colleges. Among professors of moral philosophers, there are several who could be identified as the first to teach political economy in the United States. The first of these would be John McVickar, who was appointed as professor of moral philosophy at Columbia College in 1817 and was a political economist (published Hints on Banking in 1827). Another would be George Tucker, who was appointed in moral philosophy at the University of Virginia in 1825 and regularly taught political economy. A third option would be Francis Wayland at Brown College, who also served as the institution's president from 1827 to 1855 (it was not uncommon for the college president to teach moral philosophy in the 19th century). Wayland introduced a course on political economy upon his arrival at Brown and wrote a textbook on the subject. (Wayland may have taught political economy at Union College during his one year there, in 1826-27, before he moved to Brown.) Ross Emmett ------------ FOOTER TO HES POSTING ------------ For information, send the message "info HES" to [log in to unmask]