Benjamin Blake Minor

Benjamin Blake Minor (1818–1905) was an American writer, educator, legal scholar, and fourth President of the University of Missouri, from 1860-1862. Today, he is most known as the editor of the Southern Literary Messenger. He also compiled the second edition of the reports of the decisions of George Wythe, published in 1852. Minor was born in Tappahannock, Virginia and educated at the University of Virginia and the College of William and Mary.

Minor was a son-in-law of Rt. Rev. James Hervey Otey Born 21 Oct 1818 Essex Co., VA Died 1 Aug 1905 Richmond, VA His father: Hubbard Taylor Minor His mother: Jane Blake Benjamin Blake Minor married 26 May 1842 Virginia Maury Otey.

Children of Benjamin Blake Minor and Virginia Maury Otey- Minor.

Hubbard Taylor Minor, b. Abt 1844 Benjamin Blake Minor, b. Abt 1846 Irving C. Minor, b. Abt 1847 Leonidas C. Minor, b. Abt 1848 William P. Minor, b. Abt 1849

Benjamin Blake Minor was born at Tappahannock, Essex county, Virginia, on October 21, 1818, the son of Dr. Hubbard Taylor and Jane (Blake) Minor; the grandson of Col. Thomas and Elizabeth (Taylor) Minor, and of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Aldridge) Blake; and great-grandson of Thomas and Alice (Thomas) Minor. He attended Bristol College, Pennsylvania, during the sessions of 1833-34, the University of Virginia, 1834–37, graduating in several of its schools, and subsequently entered William and Mary College, graduating in moral and political science and law in the class of 1839; practiced law in Petersburg, Virginia, 1840–41; in Richmond, 1841–43; OWNED and EDITED the Southern Literary Messenger, 1843–47; was principal of the Virginia Female Institute, Staunton, 1847–48, and founded the Home School for Young Ladies, Richmond, 1848; originated the historical department of the Society of Alumni of the University of Virginia, in 1845; the same year was vice-president of the commercial convention at Memphis; in 1847 was a chief factor in the revival of the Historical Society of Virginia of which he was made a life member; was made a corresponding member of the historical societies of New York and Wisconsin, and secretary of the African Colonization Society of Virginia and of the Virginia Bible Society, which antedates the American Bible Society.

He resumed the practice of law in Richmond in 1848 and the same year was the mover and author of the memorial to the Virginia legislature that led to the erection of the Washington Monument on Capitol Square; was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the Nineteenth Virginia militia; was a warden, register and diocesan delegate of St. James' Church, and one of the founders of the Richmond Male Orphan Asylum; on July 4, 1860, he was elected president of the State University of Missouri, and served until the curators suspended the work of the university during the civil war; was principal of a female seminary in St. Louis, 1865–69; life insurance state agent and superintendent, also public lecturer, 1869–89, and in the latter named year rejoined his family in Richmond, Virginia, and engaged in literary work; he edited a complete edition of "Reports of Chancellor George Wythe, with a Memoir of the Author;" a new edition of Hening & Munford's Virginia Reports, and contributed to law journals in New York City; he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the State University of Missouri in 1894, and in 1896 was made secretary of the Virginia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution; he married, May 26, 1842, Virginia Maury Otey, daughter of the Rt. Rev. James Hervey Otey. Benjamin Blake Minor died in 1904.

Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Volume III VII—Prominent Persons