William Joseph Martin, 1868-1943 was the tenth president of Davidson College. He was born in Columbia, Tennessee but his family moved to Davidson in 1870. His father, Col. William J. Martin was a professor of Natural Sciences at Davidson College and also served as acting president in 1887-1888. William Martin was graduated from Davidson in 1888 and earned an M.A. the following year. In 1890, he earned his M.D. degree from the University Virginia and in 1894 received a Ph. D. He returned to Davidson in 1896 as Chambers Professor of Chemistry, a position he held until 1912, when he became president of the college.
During his tenure as president the college experienced two major fires resulting in the loss of the Old Chambers Building and Watts Dormitory. Martin also saw student enrollment double from 300 to cover 600 students and expanded the faculty by fifteen additional positions despite the changes caused by World War I. In 1929, he retired from the presidency of Davidson and became the president of the Assembly Training School in Richmond, Virginia. Martin also served as moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, U.S. and was active in the Laymen's Missionary Movement.
From the description of Records, 1913-1922. (American Museum of Natural History). WorldCat record id: 722090645
