Robert James Fulton (June 28, 1826 – September 4, 1895) was an American Catholic priest and Jesuit who twice served as the president of Boston College, from 1870 to 1880 and 1888 to 1891. He was influential in the early years of Boston College, as he was in charge of all the school's academic affairs.
Fulton was born and educated in the District of Columbia, including at Georgetown College. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1843, and taught at Jesuit institutions throughout Washington, Maryland, and Massachusetts. He eventually became the first prefect of studies at the newly founded Boston College, overseeing the school's teachers and curriculum. In 1870, Fulton became the president of the college. He oversaw expansion of its facilities, and founded what would later be named the Fulton Debating Society.
In 1882, Fulton became the provincial superior of the Jesuit Maryland-New York Province, and was made the canonical visitor to the Irish Province in 1886. In 1888, Fulton returned to Boston College as president, overseeing further expansion and the separation of Boston College High School. He died at Santa Clara University in 1895. Fulton Hall and the Fulton Debating Society at Boston College are named for him.
Early life
Robert James Fulton was born on June 28, 1826, in the city of Alexandria, then located in the District of Columbia. Both of Irish descent, his father was Presbyterian and his mother was Catholic. His paternal ancestors had emigrated to the United States in the 18th century and initially settled near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. His maternal ancestors were of the O'Brien clan from County Clare and initially settled near Baltimore, Maryland. Among his relatives were the president of the United States, Benjamin Harrison, and the governor of Virginia, Henry A. Wise. Fulton attended his mother's church for the first years of his life, and when his father sought to have him instead attend his Presbyterian church, Robert protested and his father reluctantly acquiesced.
Fulton's father was wealthy but encountered significant financial difficulty soon before his father's death, when Fulton was seven years old, leaving his widow and son poor. In order to support the family, Fulton's mother opened a small, private school, which she ran, and later opened a boarding house. Fulton attended his mother's school for a time.
When he was nine years old, Fulton enrolled at a school in Washington, D.C. Through a relative, Senator William S. Fulton of Arkansas, Fulton was appointed a Page of the United States Senate, a position he held for four years. He explored various occupations, first attempting to study medicine with several books and instruments he borrowed from a physician. He then decided to seek entrance to the United States Military Academy at West Point. In preparation for this, he enrolled at Georgetown College at 16 years of age. Fulton likely worked at the college during his studies to remit part of his tuition.
While at Georgetown, Fultondecided that he would enter the Jesuit order. Upon hearing this, his mother decided that she would also enter religious life. They both rid themselves of their possessions, including manumitting their slaves, and then Fulton entered the Society of Jesus on September 1, 1843, at the novitiate in Frederick, Maryland, while his mother entered the Georgetown Visitation Monastery, taking the name Sister Olympias.
Academic career
After his novice year in the Society of Jesus, Fulton taught at Saint John's College in Frederick for three years. He then taught for a year each at Georgetown College and the Washington Seminary. Fulton began his study of philosophy at Georgetown in 1849, but in 1850 was sent to teach for one year each at the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, Georgetown, and Loyola College in Maryland. He completed his philosophical studies at Georgetown in 1853, and studied theology from 1854 to 1857. On July 25, 1857, Fulton was ordained a priest by Francis Kenrick, the Archbishop of Baltimore, at Georgetown.
Fulton completed his theological studies in 1858, and was then appointed a professor of rhetoric at Georgetown. He completed his tertianship in 1861, and in March of that year, was sent to Boston College to teach a course on moral theology to the Jesuit scholastics. On August 15, 1862, he professed his fourth vow. From 1862 to 1863, he again taught rhetoric in Frederick.