Papers of John Adams, volume 19
Some Men by their Merits call upon themselves the Attention of the whole Republic of Letters; and amidst a Profusion of Honors from the most illustrious & respectable Bodies, they are often sollicited to accept the Tribute of Estimation & Respect from Societies of inferior Consideration. Will you be pleased, Sir, to gratify the humble College of Connecticutt, in accepting as a Mark of her affectionate Love, Estimation & Honor, an ad eundem Degree of the Doctorate in Laws, which, by the unanimous [. . . .] Senatus Academicus, was publickly announced [. . .] your Name at our anniversay Com̃encement last Wednesday? We did ourselves the Honor to conjoyn your Name with those of his Excelly Goṽ. Livingston, & the Hon. President Johnson of Columbia College in N. York.1 I am, Sir, / with the greatest Respect / Your most humble / & Obedt Servant
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Hoñ. Dr. John Adams.” Some loss of text where the seal was removed.
Along with JA, William Livingston and William Samuel Johnson (1727–1819) received “The degree of Doctor of Laws” from Yale at the 1788 commencement. In 1787, Johnson, Yale 1744, left his career as a statesman and jurist to become the first president of Columbia College (formerly King’s College) in New York City, a position he held until 1800 (New-Haven Gazette, 18 Sept. 1788;
DAB
). JA acknowledged this honorary degree from Yale in his 4 Nov. reply to Stiles, below.