Holmes, George Frederick, 1820-1897

Editor, scholar, author, historian, and educator.

University of Virginia professor.

Scholar, educator, and author, of Charlottesville (Albemarle Co.), Va.

Professor at the University of Virginia, 1857-1897.

George Frederick Holmes was a University of Virginia faculty member, an early sociologist, and an ante-bellum writer who defended the institution of slavery. He fully described this position in his textbook, The Science of Society, published in 1883.

University of Virginia professor of history and literature.

George Frederick Holmes (1820-1897) was an author and educator. Holmes was born in British Guiana, emigrating to the United States in 1838. He was the first president of the University of Mississippi, 1848-1849; taught at other southern colleges; and was professor of history and political economy and science of society at the University of Virginia, 1857-1897.

George Frederick Holmes was born 2 August 1820 at Straebrock, Demerara, British Guiana, son of Mary Anne Pemberton and Joseph Henry Herndon Holmes. He married Eliza Lavalette Floyd, sister of John Buchanan Floyd. He was appointed professor of ancient languages at Richmond College in 1845 and in 1847, he was appointed professor of history and political economy at the College of William and Mary. In 1848, he was chosen the first president of the University of Mississippi. He was recalled to Virginia due to the illness of a family member, suffered an accident and never returned to Oxford, Miss. Holmes was called to the University of Virginia in 1847 and spent the rest of his life there until his death 4 November 1897.