Samuel Carrick
Encyclopedia
Samuel Czar Carrick was an American Presbyterian minister who was the first president of Blount College, the educational institution to which the University of Tennessee
traces its origin.
Carrick was born in Pennsylvania
in 1760, received his education in Virginia
, and was ordained as a minister when he was 22 years old. He married Elizabeth Moore in Rockbridge County, Virginia
, in 1779. In 1790, he helped establish the Lebanon-in-the-Fork Presbyterian Church at the confluence of the Holston
and French Broad River
s. On October 3, 1791, Carrick took part in the initial drawing of lots for Knoxville
, which had been platted as a capital for the Southwest Territory
. He and his family moved to the new city shortly afterward.
In December 1792, Carrick began advertising a "seminary" that operated out of his home, where he offered a classical education
. During the same period, he established the First Presbyterian Church on a State Street lot set aside by Knoxville founder James White
, although no building was constructed for the church until after Carrick's death. On January 12, 1796, Carrick delivered the opening prayer and sermon for the Tennessee Constitutional Convention.
In 1794 he expanded his educational efforts when the territorial legislature chartered Blount College, named for territorial governor William Blount
. The school initially met in a building on the lot now bounded by Gay Street
, State Street, Church Avenue, and Clinch Avenue, which had been donated by James White. Carrick was the college's president and only faculty member. The tuition
fee was $8.00 per semester. The school was rechartered as East Tennessee College in 1807 or 1808 and closed after Carrick's death in August 1809. Only one student ever graduated from Blount College.
Carrick is interred in First Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Knoxville. East Tennessee College reopened in 1820, 11 years after Carrick's death, under the leadership of David A. Sherman.
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
traces its origin.
Carrick was born in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in 1760, received his education in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, and was ordained as a minister when he was 22 years old. He married Elizabeth Moore in Rockbridge County, Virginia
Rockbridge County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,808 people, 8,486 households, and 6,075 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile . There were 9,550 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
, in 1779. In 1790, he helped establish the Lebanon-in-the-Fork Presbyterian Church at the confluence of the Holston
Holston River
The Holston River is a major river system of southwestern Virginia and east Tennessee. The three major forks of the Holston rise in southwestern Virginia and have their confluence near Kingsport, Tennessee. The North Fork flows southwest from Sharon Springs in Bland County, Virginia...
and French Broad River
French Broad River
The French Broad River flows from near the village of Rosman in Transylvania County, North Carolina, into the state of Tennessee. Its confluence with the Holston River at Knoxville is the beginning of the Tennessee River....
s. On October 3, 1791, Carrick took part in the initial drawing of lots for Knoxville
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
, which had been platted as a capital for the Southwest Territory
Southwest Territory
The Territory South of the River Ohio, more commonly known as the Southwest Territory, was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 26, 1790, until June 1, 1796, when it was admitted to the United States as the State of Tennessee.The Southwest Territory was...
. He and his family moved to the new city shortly afterward.
In December 1792, Carrick began advertising a "seminary" that operated out of his home, where he offered a classical education
Classical education movement
The Classical education movement advocates a form of education based in the traditions of Western culture, with a particular focus on education as understood and taught in the Middle Ages. The curricula and pedagogy of classical education was first developed during the Middle Ages by Martianus...
. During the same period, he established the First Presbyterian Church on a State Street lot set aside by Knoxville founder James White
James White (general)
James White was an American pioneer and soldier who founded Knoxville, Tennessee, in the early 1790s. Born in Rowan County, North Carolina, White served as a captain in the county's militia during the American Revolutionary War...
, although no building was constructed for the church until after Carrick's death. On January 12, 1796, Carrick delivered the opening prayer and sermon for the Tennessee Constitutional Convention.
In 1794 he expanded his educational efforts when the territorial legislature chartered Blount College, named for territorial governor William Blount
William Blount
William Blount, was a United States statesman. He was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention for North Carolina, the first and only governor of the Southwest Territory, and Democratic-Republican Senator from Tennessee . He played a major role in establishing the state of Tennessee. He was the...
. The school initially met in a building on the lot now bounded by Gay Street
Gay Street (Knoxville)
Gay Street is a street in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, that traverses the heart of the city's downtown area. Since its development in the 1790s, Gay Street has served as the city's principal financial and commercial thoroughfare, and has played a primary role in the city's historical and cultural...
, State Street, Church Avenue, and Clinch Avenue, which had been donated by James White. Carrick was the college's president and only faculty member. The tuition
Tuition
Tuition payments, known primarily as tuition in American English and as tuition fees in British English, Canadian English, Australian English, New Zealand English and Indian English, refers to a fee charged for educational instruction during higher education.Tuition payments are charged by...
fee was $8.00 per semester. The school was rechartered as East Tennessee College in 1807 or 1808 and closed after Carrick's death in August 1809. Only one student ever graduated from Blount College.
Carrick is interred in First Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Knoxville. East Tennessee College reopened in 1820, 11 years after Carrick's death, under the leadership of David A. Sherman.