WATKINS, Samuel, donor, born in Campbell county, Virginia, in 1794; died in Nashville, Tennessee, 16 October, 1880. His parents died in his infancy, and he was bound to a Scotch family, whose cruelty to him attracted attention, and, owing to this, the county court placed him with the family of James Robertson, upon whose plantation he labored for several years. He then joined the United States army, served in the war against the Creek nation under General Andrew Jackson, and was also at the battle of New Orleans. When peace was declared he returned to Nashville and became a brick-mason. pursuing this craft until 1827, when he began to erect houses and churches, among which were the 1st Baptist church and the 2d Presbyterian church in Nashville. During the civil war his farm of 600 acres was the battle-field of Nashville, his city buildings were destroyed, and his mansion was sacked and robbed, his loss amounting to $300,000. After the civil war he engaged in banking, manufacturing, and building, and dealt in real estate, was president of the Nashville gas-light company, and acquired a fortune. He bequeathed $130,000 for the establishment of a polytechnic institution in Nashville, which was erected there in 1882. Mr. Watkins made liberal provision for courses of free public lectures, and also classes in mathematics for those who could not attend colleges and schools.