Martyred Hero Spent 1841 Summer in Bainbridge

Martyred Hero Spent Summer

of 1841 Studying in Bainbridge

Bainbridge News & Republican, May 15, 1941

 

Union College at Schenectady was host to more than 600 Chi Psi members when the latter celebrated the centennial of its founding in private and public ceremonies, May 1-4.

 

Delegates from nearly every state paid special tribute to the memory of Philip Spencer, martyred hero of Chi Psi who led in the founding of the fraternity in May, 1941.  He was executed at sea for alleged mutiny in the Navy in December, 1842, while his father was Secretary of War under President Tyler.  He was accused of mutiny because he would not explain messages in Greek found in his possession which Commodore Alexander MacKenzie declared were evidence of a plot to overthrow the ship when in reality they had to do with Chi Psi.  Mr. Spencer was a fluent Greek and Latin scholar and was 19 years of age at the time of his execution.

 

It is interesting to know that Philip Spencer spent the Summer of 1841 in Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] studying with the Rev. Dr. Eigenbrodt, of St. Peter's Church.  While in town he was the guest of Col. R.N. Juliand, at Terrace Hill.

 

Several letters and documents relating to the execution of Philip were found among Col. Juliand's papers including two poems written by Philip with his signature.  At the request of Philip Thomson, president of Chi Psi Lodge, these papers were sent to Union College by Miss Janet Juliand, and were on display during the Centennial week.

 

This information was graciously donated by Miss Janet Juliand, of Terrace Hill [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY].