William Small

William Small ( born October 13, 1734 Carmyllie, Scotland, † February 25, 1775 in Birmingham) was a scholar and professor in Virginia before the American Declaration of Independence and a formative thinkers of his pupil Thomas Jefferson.

Born the son of a Presbyterian minister, James Small Small started his education at Dundee Grammar School to study subsequently from 1755 on Marischall College in Aberdeen medicine and natural sciences; his curriculum included mathematics, natural philosophy, classical languages ​​, Chemistry, Anatomy, Materia Medica (now Pharmacology ), surgery and obstetrics. Towards the end of his studies, 24 years old, Small was appointed in 1758 as Professor of Natural Sciences at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg in the former British colony of Virginia. For the period of his professorship Small interrupted his studies, but took it upon his return again and finished it in the same year.

Between 1758 and 1764 Small held his lectures in Williamsburg in English, which caused resentment among the professors, because they held the traditional lessons in Latin, but this was very welcomed among the students. His views of the natural order of things and the consequent political consequences found many interested listeners among the student body. These students also belonged to Thomas Jefferson; between him and Small was a personal friendship, which had great influence on Jefferson. In his autobiography, Jefferson clearly indicates that his political ideas which were very strong echo in the American Constitution and the Parliamentary Rules of Procedure of the Senate and both largely came from Jefferson's pen, were strongly influenced by Small.

1764 Small returned back to Aberdeen after his candidacy had failed as Chancellor of the University. After obtaining the doctorate, he opened a medical practice in Birmingham. A letter of recommendation Benjamin Franklin had him quickly in contact with Erasmus Darwin and his friend Matthew Boulton, an entrepreneur come. Together they founded in 1765 the Lunar Society, a small group of friends of ambitious scientists, philosophers, entrepreneurs and poets, who developed into a major think tank of the early Industrial Revolution.

Small died on 25 February 1775 a malaria infection, which he had contracted during his stay in Virginia. His grave is in the cemetery of St. Philips Church in Birmingham.

In honor Smalls, a new building on the campus of the College of William and Mary as a Small Hall was named in 1963.