Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/305

A condescending encomium from the Boston visitor, who now in the metropolis for the first time met different types of men hitherto unknown to his observation. 8 Francis Hopkinson died suddenly, of apoplexy, on 9 May, 1791. His son Joseph, a graduate of 1786, is known as the author of Hail Columbia, our patriot song. His sister Elizabeth was the wife of Rev. Jacob Duche ; and Mary, of Dr. John Morgan, both his fellow graduates. His brother Thomas was a graduate of 1766 and later entered the ministry of the Church of England. Four generations of Hopkinsons, in lineal descent, adorn the list of graduates of the institution which their ancestor the first Thomas Hopkinson aided in founding. JAMES LATTA was a native of Ireland, of Scotch- Irish Stock, and was born in 1732. His mother was an Alison, a relative of Dr. Francis Alison. His parents came to this country when he was about six years of age and settled near Elkton, Maryland. He was placed at school to his kinsman, Dr. Alison, at New London, Pennsylvania ; and shortly after the latter went to Phila- delphia in 1752 to begin his work at the Academy, young Latta followed him thither and completing his course there graduated with honor in the class of I757- 9 Before the completion of his course he was, like Williamson, employed .as Tutor by the Trustees : he and his classmate " having alternately supplied the Place of one Usher in the Latin School from the 13 June until the i November [1755] be paid after the rate of Sixty Pounds per Annum for their attendance during the above Term, and that their future salaries be ascertained at the next meeting of the Trustees." He continued Tutor after his graduation to the end of the year 1759, and when Mr. Jones left, in July 1758, he was appointed to succeed him as Clerk to the Trustees. He was pursuing meanwhile his studies for the Ministry, and on 15 8 Letters to his Wife. Ibid. 9 Minutes of Dec. 1755. Dr. Sprague's Annals of the American Pulpit gives, a letter from a relative of Dr. Latta stating that he had the Salutatory oration in Latin at the Commencement; but the publication of Paul Jackson's Latin Salutatory with the Provost's charge disposes of this statement.