Robert Laurenson Dashiell (1825-1880)

Robert Laurenson Dashiell was born June 25, 1825 in Salisbury, Maryland. He attended Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, graduating in July of 1846 as Salutatorian. Throughout his collegiate years at Dickinson, Dashiell was an active member of the Union Philosophical Society. Following his graduation, he went to teach in Baltimore for two years. For his continued scholarship, Dickinson awarded him a master's degree in 1849.

From 1848 to 1860, Dashiell served as a member of the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and from 1860 to 1868 he served with the Newark Conference. He was named President of Dickinson College in 1868, becoming the first alumnus to hold that position. His term in office is best remembered for the student rebellion of 1870. Dashiell would resign as President on June 25, 1872, and then be named Corresponding Secretary of the Methodist Episcopal Missionary Society.

He would occupy that position until his death on March 8, 1880 in Newark, New Jersey at the age of sixty-four.