First Graduating Class of 1870
The College began with eight faculty members, three departments, and sixteen students—three from Beirut, one from Tripoli, and twelve from Mount Lebanon. The fee for a day student was five Turkish pounds, while a boarding student paid an additional twelve pounds.
The first commencement of the Syrian Protestant College (later the American University of Beirut) took place on 26 July 1870, when the College graduated its first class.
The ceremony proceeded smoothly and stood in marked contrast to the exhibitions, comedies, and songs commonly presented at the close of various boys’ schools in Beirut. It made a strong impression on the community and was favorably received by the more educated classes. The graduates quickly found employment; all entered the teaching profession except one, who pursued medical studies at the College.[8]
The commencement exercises were held in the house owned by Mr. Hamadeh, SPC second home, in a formal academic setting and centered on student orations, which were a key component of the ceremony. The program of that ceremony was handwritten with names of the speakers, town of origin and titles of their speeches. The five graduates delivered addresses in multiple languages: three in Arabic, one in English, and one in French. These orations were described as commendable and were well received by the audience, reflecting both the students’ proficiency and the College’s multilingual educational mission from its earliest years. Contemporary accounts highlight the distinctive nature of this ceremony in comparison to other school-year-end celebrations in Beirut at the time, which often included entertainment such as songs, comedy, and informal performances. In contrast, the Syrian Protestant College’s commencement emphasized academic seriousness and public intellectual expression. This distinction was noted as particularly impressive by segments of local society and was seen as introducing a new educational standard within the community.
The first class consisted of sixteen students of whom only five graduated in 1870:
- Kaysar Ghurayyib, physician and later Director of the English Hospital in Jaffa and U.S. Honorary Consul
- Ibrahim Khairallah, promoter of the Bahá’í faith and author
- Na'um Mughabghab, educator, school supervisor, and later active in education and meteorology in Egypt.
- Ibrahim Mussawir, Chief of the Translation Office, Public Works Department.
- Ya'qub Sarruf, co-founder of al-Muqtataf and a leading figure in Arab intellectual and cultural life.
The Class of 1870 overcame significant institutional and academic challenges and went on to achieve notable success, confirming President Penrose’s assessment that they brought great credit to their alma mater.” [9]