Patrick Francis Healy is inaugurated as president of Georgetown University, the first person of acknowledged African descent to head a major predominantly white university.
At a Glance
- Date
- 31 July 1874
- Location
- Washington, D.C.
- Key people
- Patrick Francis Healy
- Category
- Education & HBCUs
- Source
- Georgetown University records (1874) · Georgetown University
What It Meant Then
Born to an enslaved mother, he earned a doctorate and rose to lead a national institution.
What It Means Now
Healy is honored as a pioneer in American higher education.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “Patrick Healy Leads Georgetown.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/patrick-healy-leads-georgetown/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Patrick Healy Leads Georgetown. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/patrick-healy-leads-georgetown/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “Patrick Healy Leads Georgetown.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/patrick-healy-leads-georgetown/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.