Catherine Brewer Benson
Encyclopedia
Catherine Elizabeth Benson, née Brewer (24 January 1822 – 27 February 1908) was the first woman to earn a college bachelor's degree.
Catherine Elizabeth Brewer was born on January 24, 1822 in Augusta
, Georgia
. She was daughter of Thomas Aspinwall Brewer (born on August 20, 1792 in Brookline, Massachusetts
, died on September 26, 1874 in Macon, Georgia
) and Mary Foster Brewer (born February 29, 1795 in Roxbury, Massachusetts
, died on January 31, 1871 in Macon) who were married on October 3, 1820 in Roxbury. She had younger sister Adeline (born on October 5, 1825 in Lexington, Georgia
, died on March 9, 1896 in Macon; she married firstly Napoleon Bonaparte Corbin on August 8, 1850 and secondly Robert B. Clayton on December 21, 1866 in Macon) and younger brother Edward Ebenezer (born on June 4, 1828 in Lexington, died June 8, 1864 in Macon; he married Caroline Elizabeth Jones on July 17, 1858 in Fort Valley, Georgia
). Her family moved from Massachusetts
to Lexington in the 1820's. In 1838 they moved form Lexington to Macon. In nearby Gray, Georgia
she enrolled in Clintom Female Seminary. When the seminary was closed, the students, including Brewer, entered Georgia Female College (now Wesleyan College
) in 1839. The college, chartered in 1836, began offering classes in 1839. The honor of being the first woman to earn a degree from a chartered college fell to her because her name came first alphabetically among the graduates of the class of 1840, an honor of which she was well aware, as Wesleyan alumnae relate anecdotally. She received diploma on July 16, 1840. Her diploma said that "she had completed the regular course and bestowed on her the First Degree", which was commonly referred to the bachelor's degree
. She is remembered each year at the annual meeting of the Wesleyan College Alumnae Association when graduating seniors are inducted into the association using the "Benson Charge", taken from a speech she made to the Class of 1888: Members of the graduating class, demands will be made upon you which were not made upon us. Your training, if you are true to it, will amply qualify you to meet those demands. No wiser blessing could I wish for you than that you may be true to every God-appointed work.
She married Richard Aaron Benson (born on November 14, 1821 in Putnam County, Georgia
, died on October 10, 1877 in Macon) on November 24, 1842 in Macon. They had eight children:
Catherine Benson died at her home in Macon on February 27, 1908 at the age of 86 after several weeks of illness.
Catherine Elizabeth Brewer was born on January 24, 1822 in Augusta
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. She was daughter of Thomas Aspinwall Brewer (born on August 20, 1792 in Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:...
, died on September 26, 1874 in Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
) and Mary Foster Brewer (born February 29, 1795 in Roxbury, Massachusetts
Roxbury, Massachusetts
Roxbury is a dissolved municipality and current neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was one of the first towns founded in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630, and became a city in 1846 until annexed to Boston on January 5, 1868...
, died on January 31, 1871 in Macon) who were married on October 3, 1820 in Roxbury. She had younger sister Adeline (born on October 5, 1825 in Lexington, Georgia
Lexington, Georgia
Lexington is a city in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, United States. The population was 239 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Oglethorpe County...
, died on March 9, 1896 in Macon; she married firstly Napoleon Bonaparte Corbin on August 8, 1850 and secondly Robert B. Clayton on December 21, 1866 in Macon) and younger brother Edward Ebenezer (born on June 4, 1828 in Lexington, died June 8, 1864 in Macon; he married Caroline Elizabeth Jones on July 17, 1858 in Fort Valley, Georgia
Fort Valley, Georgia
Fort Valley is a city in and the county seat of Peach County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,815.Fort Valley is the corporate headquarters of the Blue Bird Corporation, a large manufacturer of buses...
). Her family moved from Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
to Lexington in the 1820's. In 1838 they moved form Lexington to Macon. In nearby Gray, Georgia
Gray, Georgia
Gray is a city in Jones County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,084 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Jones County.Gray is part of the Macon Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
she enrolled in Clintom Female Seminary. When the seminary was closed, the students, including Brewer, entered Georgia Female College (now Wesleyan College
Wesleyan College
Wesleyan College is a private, liberal arts women's college located in Macon, Georgia, United States.-History:The school was chartered on December 23, 1836 as the Georgia Female College, and opened its doors to students on January 7, 1839. The school was renamed Wesleyan Female College in 1843...
) in 1839. The college, chartered in 1836, began offering classes in 1839. The honor of being the first woman to earn a degree from a chartered college fell to her because her name came first alphabetically among the graduates of the class of 1840, an honor of which she was well aware, as Wesleyan alumnae relate anecdotally. She received diploma on July 16, 1840. Her diploma said that "she had completed the regular course and bestowed on her the First Degree", which was commonly referred to the bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
. She is remembered each year at the annual meeting of the Wesleyan College Alumnae Association when graduating seniors are inducted into the association using the "Benson Charge", taken from a speech she made to the Class of 1888: Members of the graduating class, demands will be made upon you which were not made upon us. Your training, if you are true to it, will amply qualify you to meet those demands. No wiser blessing could I wish for you than that you may be true to every God-appointed work.
She married Richard Aaron Benson (born on November 14, 1821 in Putnam County, Georgia
Putnam County, Georgia
Putnam County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 18,812. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 21,251...
, died on October 10, 1877 in Macon) on November 24, 1842 in Macon. They had eight children:
- Catherine Colvard Benson (borm November 10, 1844 in Macon, died on January 31, 1885)
- Richard Edward Benson (born on October 20, 1846 in Macon, died ca. 1897; he married Emma Haskins on April 20, 1871 in Macon; they had son, Thomas A. Benson)
- Thomas Brewer Benson (born on January 22, 1849 in Macon, died on December 1880; he married Hattie E. Freeman on November 24, 1874 in Macon) - railroad conductor
- Eliza Sophie Benson (born on December 24, 1850 in Macon, died in 1912)
- William Shepherd Benson - admiral who became the nation's first Chief of Naval OperationsChief of Naval OperationsThe Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
, an office created 11 May 1915 - Frank Cook Benson (born on December 17, 1857 in Macon, died on October 57, 1943) - clerk
- Howard Burke Benson (born on May 4, 1862, died on September 1887) - clerk
- Gertrude Benson (born on November 12, 1864 in Macon, died on January 16, 1952; she married Henry C. Arnall)
Catherine Benson died at her home in Macon on February 27, 1908 at the age of 86 after several weeks of illness.