In memory of James Thomas Ward D. D.The author of the page wished to remain anonymous

Rev. James Thomas (J.T.) Ward (1820-1897)

The first President of Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College), Rev. James Thomas (J.T.) Ward was born August 21st, 1820 in Georgetown, Washington D.C. to Rev. Ulysses Ward and Susan Beall Ward. J.T. Ward was the second of seven children. He was educated in various schools through the D.C. region as well as at the Classical Academy of Brookeville in Montgomery County, Maryland, which he graduated from in 1838. In 1841, Ward, like his father, was ordained as a Methodist preacher. For the next twenty-five years he served as an assistant pastor and lead pastor in Methodist churches throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Ward married Catherine Ann Light in 1845 and together the couple had two daughters: Mary Miranda and Clara Virginia (who died in childhood). Upon Ward’s retirement from active ministry in 1866 due to poor health, the family moved to Westminster. During this period, Ward met Fayette Buell and became involved in his plan to open a Methodist-based college in the community. Through connections made during his ministry, Ward helped secure the necessary funding to open the school, which held its first academic year as Western Maryland College in 1867.

During this first year, Ward served as principal of the faculty and as a professor of Biblical literature and Latin and Greek. Following Western Maryland College’s incorporation and purchase from Buell, Ward continued to serve as principal of the faculty and as a professor of Mental and Moral Science. In 1873, Ward’s administrative title was changed from principal to president of the College, a position he held until his resignation in 1886.

Following Ward’s retirement as the first president of Western Maryland College, he was named president of Westminster Theological Seminary, which opened in association with Western Maryland College in 1883. In addition to these roles, Ward also served as President of the Board of Trustees for WMC until 1892. During his time with the college, Ward received several honors, including an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Adrian College in 1871 as well as being named a Fellow of the Society of Science, Letters and Art in London in 1888.

On March 4, 1897, Ward died at his home in Westminster at the age of seventy-six.