[177] less, but that he feared England more. He wanted that unbending, hickory toughness which the times required. New England needed men who were as splinters from her own granite hills; and he was not one of that type. His gift of two thousand acres of land to Harvard College, to found a Professorship of Law, was by his last will. His words concerning his gift are:--
To be appropriated towards the endowing a Professorship of Law in said College, or a Professorship of Physic or Anatomy, whichever the Corporation and Overseers of said College shall judge best for its benefit; and they shall have full power to sell said lands, and put the money out to interest, the income whereof shall be for the aforesaid purpose.These funds were left to accumulate till 1815, when it was deemed expedient to establish a Professorship of Law. The next year, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, Hon. Isaac Parker, was elected, bearing the title, βRoyall Professor of law.β This learned and worthy man gave a course of lectures immediately; and, when thus brought in contact with college and legal education, he suggested the establishment of a βLaw School at Cambridge.β This recommendation was joyfully greeted; and, in 1817, the law school was established. Thus Colonel Royal was indirectly an originator of that school. Professor Parker held office for eleven years, and, in 1827, resigned. Hon. Asahel Stearns (brother of Dr. Stearns, of Medford) was then chosen, 1817, and served acceptably till 1829, when John Hooker Ashman succeeded. He died, in office, in 1833; and, in 1834, Hon. Simon Greenleaf was chosen, and performed his duties with eminent success. He resigned in 1848, and was succeeded by Hon. Theophilus Parsons, who is now in office. These distinguished jurisconsults have each paid a tribute of respect to the memory of Colonel Royal, of Medford, and have recognized him as the primal cause of the establishment of a permanent school for that second of sciences, jurisprudence. Colonel Isaac Royal was born, in the Island of Antigua, in 1719. The English had established themselves there as early as 1636. The father of our townsman, who gave his own Christian name to his son, possessed great wealth, and, turning his eyes to Massachusetts, purchased of Elizabeth,
