Davidson College is an institution of higher education of The Presbyterian Church (USA). It was established in 1837 by The Concord Presbytery, which purchased 469 acres (1.90km2) of land from William Lee Davidson II. He was the son and Revolutionary War commander Brigadier-General William Lee Davidson II, after whom the college is named. According to church records, a May 13th, 1835 meeting was held. Members of the Concord Presbytery then met several times to plan the purchase of land and begin construction. Land payments would start January 1st of the next year. In 1840, the first Davidson students graduated and were awarded diplomas with the college seal created by Peter Stuart Ney. Some believe that Ney was Napoleon's Marshal.
