Empie, Adam

(Sept. 5, 1785-Nov. 6, 1860). College president and rector. He was born in Schenectady, New York. Empie was educated at Union College, Schenectady, and decided to enter the ordained ministry of the Episcopal Church. He was ordained deacon on July 30, 1809, and began his ministry as assistant at St. George's Church, Hempstead, Long Island. He was later ordained priest (date unavailable). From 1811 until 1814, he was rector of St. James' Church, Wilmington, North Carolina. From 1814 until 1816, he was professor and chaplain at the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York. He returned to St. James' Church in 1816. He remained there until 1827 when we became the twelfth president of the College of William and Mary. Under his leadership, the enrollment of the college increased from about twelve students to sixty-nine students. Empie resigned as president of William and Mary on July 6, 1836, to become the rector of St. James' Church, Richmond, Virginia. He served there until 1853, when he had a stroke and retired. He spent the last seven years of his life in retirement in Wilmington, North Carolina, where he died.