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Painted portrait of John Bryan seated and facing forward

William & Mary President: John Stewart Bryan
Term Served: July 1, 1934 - January 1, 1943
Preceded by: President Julian A.C. Chandler 1919 - 1934 / Interim President Kremer J. Hoke 1933 - 1934
Succeeded by: John Edwin Pomfret 1943 - 1951

John Stewart Bryan was the nineteenth President of William & Mary from July 1, 1934 through April 11, 1942 when he resigned. He officially left the office on January 1, 1943. Bryan served as Chancellor in 1942-1944. Bryan was a graduate of the University of Virginia and Harvard; lawyer; member of the William & Mary Board of Visitors; publisher of Richmond Times-Dispatch and Richmond News Leader; president of the American Newspaper Publishers Association. He was awarded an honorary degree by William & Mary in 1942. He was born in 1871 and died in 1944. U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt attended Bryan's inauguration where he spoke and received an honorary degree.

William & Mary owes the annual Yule Log and Charter Day ceremonies to President Bryan. The Bryan Complex was named in honor of President Bryan.

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A note about the contents of this site

This website contains the best available information from known sources at the time it was written. Unfortunately, many of the early original records of William & Mary were destroyed by fires, military occupation, and the normal effects of time. The information in this website is not complete, and it changes as we continue to research and uncover new sources.