Philip Draper disorder, 1780, 1780

On the afternoon of Saturday May 29, 1779, students gathered in a dormitory room and made "an indecent & tumultuous noise to the Dishonor & Disturbance of the College" while "drinking wine to excess." Following a Tutor's order that they cease their loud behavior, the students moved to Philip Draper's room where they continued their party despite again being reprimanded by the Tutor. Finally, the group left the College grounds for a "Gaming house in the Town, notwithstanding all such Houses had been publickly & recently prohibited by the Governors of the College." In response, the Faculty voted to degrade the class standing six of the students, but Draper, due to a history of disciplinary problems, was rusticated. On July 21, 1779, the Corporation dismissed Draper's petition for readmittance. Nearly a year later on July 10, 1780, the Faculty again dismissed Draper's petition, finding that "we can repose no kind of confidence in his declarations, they appearing contradictory, and as he has repeatedly violated his promises." During their July 19, 1780 meeting, however, the Corporation reviewed Draper's case along with the "testimonials from respectable gentlemen of his good behavior" and voted that he "be admitted to a degree of Bachelor of Arts with the Class to which he has been degraded."

Philip Draper was born on March 2, 1757 in Dedham, Massachusetts. He matriculated with the Harvard Class of 1779, but due to his rustication, he graduated in 1780. He taught school in Dorchester for several years before practicing medicine in South Dedham. He died on March 21, 1817.