George Washington consented to the fledgling college's use of his name (the only institution of higher education in the United States with this claim), pledged the sum of 50 guineas to its establishment, and extended his warm wishes for the "lasting and extensive usefulness" of the institution.

[2] He later served on Washington College's Board of Visitors and Governors — his only involvement with an institution of higher learning.

Joining General Washington on the Board of Visitors and Governors of the new college were such distinguished figures as U.S.

Senator John Henry, Congressman Joshua Seney and William Paca, Governor of Maryland.

President Smith had envisaged Washington College as the Eastern Shore campus of a public "University of Maryland" with St. John's College as its Western Shore counterpart, a proposal incorporated into the later institution's 1784 state charter, but the Maryland General Assembly's reluctance to provide funding meant this was never more than a paper institution, and the relationship ended with Smith's return to Philadelphia in 1789.

[4] With his election as the first President of the United States, General Washington retired from the Board of Visitors and Governors.

It accepted the honorary degree of doctor of laws, which a delegation from Chestertown presented to him on June 24, 1789, in New York, then the seat of Congress.

The original college building cornerstone was laid in May 1783; it opened in 1788 after selling off acreage and starting a lottery to fund the project.

[2] For past or future stats numbers look here During the 2018–2019 academic year, 40.6 percent of incoming first-year students were from Maryland and the balance many other US states and 23 foreign nations.

83% of students lived in an on-campus residence during the 2018 Fall term;[8] the rest commute either from off-campus housing or home.

Tuition for the 2020–2021 year is $48,678, and total expenses per annum (including room, board, and mandatory student fees) are $62,806.

[10] Each year, Washington College awards the nation's largest undergraduate literary prize.

Since 1968, the Sophie Kerr Prize has been presented to one graduating senior demonstrating the greatest literary promise.

At a ceremony held at the Poets House in New York City on May 17, 2011, Lisa Jones was selected as the winner of the $61,000 Sophie Kerr Prize.

Richard Beeman won the 2010 George Washington Book Prize for his work, Plain, Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution.

[14] Washington College hosts the Harwood Series, which includes speeches by national politicians and media pundits.

Because of its reputation as a liberal arts school with creative writing being a strength, writers such as John Barth, Ray Bradbury, Bobbie Ann Mason, Colum McCann, Neil Gaiman, Tim O'Brien, Junot Díaz, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and Robert Pinsky have given readings at the campus.

Greek life at Washington College comprises four men's fraternities and three women's sororities.

The first varsity sports for women – rowing, tennis, and volleyball – were added in the mid-1970s and were followed by the additions of softball, lacrosse, field hockey, and swimming by the mid-1980s.

The women's soccer team is the college's newest varsity sport; it began play during the fall of 1998.

[citation needed] Fourteen of Washington College's 20 varsity teams compete in the Centennial Conference.

[22] Washington College Men's Lacrosse players have earned All-America honors 226 times.

Only seniors can apply to live off campus unless they permanently reside nearby and fill out required exemption forms.

Middle, East, and West Halls stand on the crest of a low hill (the terrace) at the center of campus.