June 13, 1776

Commencement at the college in Philadelphia—now known as the University of Pennsylvania—came at a contentious moment of political change and military activity in 1776. There were seven “young Gentlemen” who qualified to receive bachelor’s degrees and three men who would receive master’s degrees. However, the “usual Commencement Exercises” were “postponed to the next public occasion.” In previous years, the commencement exercises had been attended by college personnel as well as other leaders, including members of the Continental Congress. But that was not the case for the exercises in June 1776.

The Pennsylvania Evening Post
Printed by Benjamin Towne

At a Commencement held in the College of this city on Monday last the following young Gentlemen were admitted Bachelors of Arts, viz.

James Abercrombie, John Leeds Bozman, John Clopton, William Cocke, Thomas Duncan Smith, William Thomas and Ralph Wiltshire.

Likewise the following were admitted Masters of Arts, viz. Archbald Gamble, Joseph Harrison and Brice Innis.

The usual Commencement Exercises are postponed to the next public occasion for the convenience of some of the graduates, who could not at present give their attendance.