Collection of the University of Pittsburgh Art Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA. Gift of Dr. George Clapp
1984.13.1
Hugh Henry Brackenridge
1810 (Date created)
Oil
Painting
Paintings
22.625 in W
x
28.625 in H
(Image)
34.5 in W x 39.5 in H (Frame)
34.5 in W x 39.5 in H (Frame)
American
Hugh Henry Brackenridge (1748 – June 25, 1816) was an American writer, lawyer, judge, and justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Elected in 1786 to the Pennsylvania state assembly, where he fought for the adoption of the federal Constitution, he helped establish the first western newspaper in Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Gazette. He is also the founder of the University of Pittsburgh (the Pittsburgh Academy) in 1787, modeled on Benjamin Franklin's Academy of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania).
Hugh Henry Brackenridge (1748 – June 25, 1816) was an American writer, lawyer, judge, and justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Elected in 1786 to the Pennsylvania state assembly, where he fought for the adoption of the federal Constitution, he helped establish the first western newspaper in Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Gazette. He is also the founder of the University of Pittsburgh (the Pittsburgh Academy) in 1787, modeled on Benjamin Franklin's Academy of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania).
Hugh Henry Brackenridge was born in Scotland in 1748. His family immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1753. He studied theology at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), and became headmaster of an academy in Somerset County, in Maryland, in 1772. During the American Revolutionary War, Brackenridge served as a chaplain in General Washington's army, preaching patriotic sermons to the soldiers. In 1781, after studying law in Philadelphia under Samuel Chase, he left for Pittsburgh, then the Western border of the country. The young city was already blooming economically and kept flourishing upon his arrival. In just a few years, Brackenridge established many elements of modern-day Pittsburgh: he founded the first regular newspaper in 1786, the Pittsburgh Gazette, now the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He was elected to the Pennsylvania State Assembly and fought to establish the County of Allegheny. On February 28 1787, the Assembly passed his bill founding the Pittsburgh Academy, which would stand on a parcel of land donated by the Penn family. Starting as a preparatory school, the Pittsburgh Academy grew from a small log cabin in 1787 to a brick building erected in 1790 on the corner of Third Street and Cherry Alley, now Downtown.
Hugh Henry Brackenridge was born in Scotland in 1748. His family immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1753. He studied theology at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), and became headmaster of an academy in Somerset County, in Maryland, in 1772. During the American Revolutionary War, Brackenridge served as a chaplain in General Washington's army, preaching patriotic sermons to the soldiers. In 1781, after studying law in Philadelphia under Samuel Chase, he left for Pittsburgh, then the Western border of the country. The young city was already blooming economically and kept flourishing upon his arrival. In just a few years, Brackenridge established many elements of modern-day Pittsburgh: he founded the first regular newspaper in 1786, the Pittsburgh Gazette, now the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He was elected to the Pennsylvania State Assembly and fought to establish the County of Allegheny. On February 28 1787, the Assembly passed his bill founding the Pittsburgh Academy, which would stand on a parcel of land donated by the Penn family. Starting as a preparatory school, the Pittsburgh Academy grew from a small log cabin in 1787 to a brick building erected in 1790 on the corner of Third Street and Cherry Alley, now Downtown.
In Collection
Gift of Dr. George Clapp
Purchased in 1938 from the ex-collection of the Brackenridge family
Purchased in 1938 from the ex-collection of the Brackenridge family
From University Archives:
Title: Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh, John Gabbert Bowman, Administrative Files
Collection Number: UA.2.10.1921-1945
Creator: University of Pittsburgh. Chancellor.
Box 1, Folder 5
Title: Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh, John Gabbert Bowman, Administrative Files
Collection Number: UA.2.10.1921-1945
Creator: University of Pittsburgh. Chancellor.
Box 1, Folder 5
Please note that cataloging is ongoing and that some information may not be complete.