1
Dec
1776
Brown University's University Hall Becomes a Barracks
Providence, RI· month date
The Story
When the British occupied Newport in December 1776, American and French forces used University Hall at the College of Rhode Island (later Brown University) as a barracks and hospital. The building housed soldiers at various points during the war, and the college suspended regular instruction during the most intense periods of military activity.
The conversion of a college building into military quarters reflected the war's intrusion into every aspect of civilian life. President James Manning worked to keep the institution alive through the disruption, and the college resumed full operations after the war. University Hall still stands on the Brown campus, one of the oldest college buildings in the country.
People Involved
John Brown
Merchant
Wealthy Providence merchant who helped organize the burning of the Gaspee in 1772 and later financed privateering operations during the war. Brown represented the fusion of commercial ambition and revolutionary politics that characterized Providence's contribution to independence.
Moses Brown
Merchant
Member of the powerful Brown family who broke with his brothers over the issue of slavery and became one of New England's earliest abolitionists. Moses used his wealth to support Quaker causes and later helped establish the Rhode Island Anti-Slavery Society. His moral evolution complicated the family's legacy.
James Manning
President of Brown University
First president of the College of Rhode Island (later Brown University) who kept the institution functioning through the war years. Manning used the college as a platform for patriot politics and served as a delegate to the Continental Congress. The college's University Hall was used as a barracks and hospital during the conflict.
Sources for Providence