Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-06

It is news perhaps to many that 'he
Rowdoin family. one Of the early rep
resantatiyes of which was honored by
having the Brunswick college called by
his name has living representative
and patron of the institution, says tne
BOSTON Transcript. George S. Bowdoih
of New York gave $4,000 towards Sc
curing the conditional gift of the gen.
er;,I education board. Whether ne is
in direct line of descent from Cover
nor James Bowdcin Is not stated, put
it must be that he is, since all OF tiie
name in the country have one common
ancestor The family is of Husuenot
descent On the revocation OF 'he
edjct of Nantes one OF the Refugees
from France was Pierre Baudouln, VINO
f1e.l across the Atlantic and landed at
Casco. now Portland, in 1884, But
those were troublous times. the place
was EXPOSED to attack by Indians. and
after two years, Peter Bowdoln, as MS
| name became Anglicized, removed his
| family to Boston. There he soon died'
| and his son, becoming thrifty mer-
| chant laid the fortune of the falnliy'
| The sen of the merchant and grandson
| Of the Huguenot refugee became the
| famous James Bowdoin, native of Bos-
| ton. graduate Of Harvard. friend OF
| Franklin, member of the general court,
president OF the Massachusetts Con-
stitut;onal Convention of 1779 COVER
nor of the state in succession to Johh
Hancock, suppressor Of Shay's repel-
lion. delegate to the federal constltu-
tional convention, fellow of Harvard,
| founder and first president or the
| American Academy of Arts and SCI
| ences. honored by degrees from Aale
and Edinburgh, patriot, man Of letters
and patron of learning in whose honor
| the college was named by act OF the
| Massachusetts legislature. The act
| Granting the charter of Bowdoin was
| passed in 1894 and the state srahte"
| five townships of land for the benent
! OF the institution. The son OF Cover
| nor Bowdoin, Jr., himself man Oh
| note. a graduate of Harvard ana oX-
| ford. who served the state during the
| Revolution, and was minister TO SPAN
| under the administration of JEFFERSON
| and who. during his residence abroad
| accumulated a valuable library anu
| collection OF paintings and dra"lhss'
| He it was who became the earnest
patron of Bowdoin giving 1t during MS
life 100 pounds in money ana oooV
acres of land and bequeathlng MS
,inrary and art collection, all in honor
of his father, after whom the college
| ha1 becn named. In the list OF gradu-
| atcs of the college there Is put one
| Bowdoin. This was James BoWdolh'
grandson of Governor James Bo"dolli
| and son of Thomas l.. winthrop OF
| Roston. He was of the class OF 1914.
He studied law and entered the prac-
| tice in Boston, but having received
from the distinguished uncle, whose
name he had assumed, competent
| estate, he relinquished the profession
for more congenial pursuits. He dled
| in Havana of a pulmonary complaint
in 1888. George Sullivan Bowdoin OF
New York. the present representative
| of the family and latest patron, is a
| banker and member of the firm OF j.
F. Morgan g. Co. 1t does not appear
| that he holds a college degree, but he
is connected as director or trustee.
| with numerous financial and industrial
| ENTERPRISES and he is gentleman OIL
| broad culture, being member OF the
| American Fine Arts Society. OF the
| METROPOLITAN Museum of Art and the
| American Museum of Natural History.
He is also q member of several of the
| aiding clubs and of the New Eng
land Society of the Sons Of the Ameri-
| can Revolution.