The VA legislature grants a charter to Liberty Hall Academy. The school relocates just outside the new town of Lexington.
Liberty Hall erected
George Washington gives $20,000 worth of James River Canal Stock as an endowment to help the school survive Congressman Andrew Moore of Rockbridge County, trustee of Liberty Hall Academy and an alumnus of Augusta Academy, and Francis Preston of Washington County encourage Pres George Washington to make a gift of 100 shares of stock in the James River Company to Liberty Hall. Washington had accepted the stock from the VA legislature with the understanding that it would be used for philanthropic purposes. After considering several applicants, Washington gives the stock to Liberty Hall.
Endowed by George Washington and name changes to Washington Academy
After an unsucessful attempt by the legislature to transform Liberty Hall into a publiccollege named in honor of Pres Washington, the name of Liberty Hall Academy is changed to Washington Academy, but the college remains firmly in private hands under the direction of the trustees.
Fire guts Liberty Hall and the school is moved to its current site within the limits of Lex.
By the Civil War, the two libraries contain about four thousand volumes.
January 2nd, the VA General Assembly renames the school Washington College.