Robert Burns McMullen, 1807-1865

Abstract

President McMullen was born on February 9, 1807 in Abbyville, South Carolina and married Ann L. Noe. He was a professor at East Tennessee University when he was called to be pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, a position he held from April, 1841 until November, 1858. In 1844, he became the first president of the Deaf and Dumb School in Knoxville, a position he held until at least 1853. McMullen died on January 15, 1865. "Dr. McMullen, when called to the presidency of the college, was serving as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Knoxville. He had been educated at the University of Alabama and at Princeton and after graduation had devoted his time to teaching as well as to preaching. He had come to Knoxville in 1841 from Alabama to accept the Chair of Chemistry in the East Tennessee University (not the University of Tennessee), but after a short time in this position had been persuaded by the Presbyterian congregation to become pastor of their church. This necessitated his resigning as professor at the University, but he remained deeply interested in the educational progress of his Church, and lost no opportunity to advocate the cause of the Presbyterian colleges in the courts of the Church. In recognition of his services to the cause of Christian education, Washington College conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1855. Realizing the wider opportunities for service in the educational work of the Church which the position at Clarksville would bring him, he did not hesitate to accept the Presidency of Stewart College when this position was offered to him by the Trustees in October 1858." [Cooper, Southwestern at Memphis: 1848-1948, p. 18]