Thomas Clap facts for kids

Thomas Clap (June 26, 1703 – January 7, 1767) was an important American teacher and leader. He was a Congregational minister and managed a college. He was the fifth leader of Yale College, first called "rector" and later "president." He led Yale from 1740 to 1766.

Clap is famous for making big changes at Yale in the 1740s. He worked with Rev. Dr. Samuel Johnson to update the college. He convinced the government of Connecticut to stop taxing Yale. He also opened a second building for students and made the college twice as big.

Under his leadership, Yale started graduating more students than Harvard in 1756. He added new subjects like math and science, based on Enlightenment ideas. He also kept the college's religious teachings. He helped start the Linonian Society in 1753, a group for debating and reading. This is one of Yale's oldest secret societies. He even built the first Orrery (a model of the solar system) in America. He gave his friend Benjamin Franklin an honorary degree.

However, his time at Yale was also full of arguments. He had conflicts with different religious groups and with the government. He also disagreed with Yale's board and even his own students. He had to resign as president of Yale in 1766 and died soon after.

Early Life and Education

Thomas Clap was born in Scituate, Massachusetts. He studied with two reverends, James McSparran and Nathiel Eells. He went to Harvard University when he was 15 years old and finished in 1722.

In 1725, he started preaching in Windham, Connecticut. He became the official minister there in 1726. In 1727, he married Mary Whiting, the daughter of the previous minister. He stayed in Windham for 14 years. He was known for his very strict religious beliefs.

Leading Yale College

Clap was chosen to lead Yale College after Elisha Williams left. The college leaders believed he would keep strict religious rules at Yale. He officially started in 1740. His time as leader was known for being very strict and sometimes difficult.

He was seen as a "firm" and "determined" leader. He used strong methods to keep order at the college. His religious views often caused problems within the school. He did not like the teachings of traveling ministers like George Whitefield. One minister, James Davenport, even called him a "hypocrite" in front of his church. This caused the church in New Haven to split into two groups.

Student Conflicts and Expulsions

In 1741, two students were not allowed to get their degrees. They were accused of trying to spread the ideas of the First Great Awakening. The college made a rule that students could not say that the leaders or teachers were "hypocrites." Soon after, a student named David Brainerd broke this rule. He said a teacher "had no more grace than a chair" and was expelled. Important people like Jonathan Edwards tried to help Brainerd, but it did not work.

Clap pushed for laws to stop traveling preachers. He wanted to prevent churches from breaking apart. But religious arguments continued to divide the students. They refused to follow rules and skipped religious classes. In 1742, Clap closed the college and sent the students home. The government supported him. Many students who strongly disagreed with Clap moved to other colleges when Yale reopened in 1743.

Modernizing Yale's Curriculum

While Clap was arguing with some religious groups, he also worked with others. Starting in 1740, he partnered with Rev. Samuel Johnson. They worked to improve Yale's education. Clap added math and science to Yale's courses. He replaced old religious studies with Johnson's ideas about moral philosophy.

In 1743, Clap published a catalog of Yale's library. It used a new system based on Samuel Johnson's ideas for learning. Clap also wrote a new plan for the school. The government approved this plan in 1745. Yale officially became "The President and Fellows of Yale College in New Haven." Clap became Yale's first President on June 1, 1745. He also wrote a new set of laws for Yale in Latin. This book was the first one printed in New Haven in 1745.

In 1747, the government allowed Yale to hold a lottery to raise money. This money, along with funds from a captured French boat, helped build Connecticut Hall. This was the second main building at Yale and was finished in 1753.

Later Challenges and Resignation

Clap was worried about the quality of preaching in New Haven. He also worried about students leaving Yale for other colleges. To keep students and defend traditional beliefs, he became a professor of divinity. He also allowed students to have their own separate church services on Sundays. Both traditional religious groups and another group called Episcopalians did not like this.

In 1753, Rev. Samuel Johnson warned Clap. He said that if Yale continued separate worship, the college's official charter might be seen as invalid. This could mean Yale would no longer exist. Clap then agreed to let Anglican students attend their own church.

The political power of the "New Lights" (a religious group) grew in Connecticut. In 1754, a governor who supported traditional views was elected. But many other leaders supported the New Lights.

There were also arguments within Yale's governing board. In 1755, the government did not give money to the college. Clap worked to raise money for a new professor of divinity. Naphtali Daggett was appointed to this role in 1756.

Clap became unhappy with the traditional preaching in New Haven. He decided that Yale students could not only worship separately but also form their own church. This decision in 1757 caused a lot of anger. Discipline at the college fell apart. The government stepped in and threatened to inspect Yale. Even though both religious groups now mistrusted Clap, his defense of Yale as separate from the state eventually led the government to side with him.

The front page of The Annals or History of Yale College, written by President Thomas Clap in 1766.

However, he had less success with his own teachers and students. Students in the 1760s were becoming rebellious. They decided not to drink certain liquors and spoke out against the British Parliament. They asked the college leaders to remove Clap, who was very strict. Students stopped going to classes and prayers. They also treated their teachers badly, and the teachers resigned.

The college ordered an early spring break. Few students returned after the break. President Clap offered to resign at a meeting in July 1766. He continued to lead Yale until September 10, 1766. On that day, he led his last graduation ceremony, gave his farewell speech, and officially resigned. Professor Naphtali Daggett took over as temporary president.

Thomas Clap died four months later in New Haven. He was 63 years old.

See also

• Education in Connecticut