After the death of the Rev. Alexander Craighead, in 1766, the first settled pastor of Sugar Creek, the Rev. Joseph Alexander (a nephew of John McKnitt Alexander) became his successor for a short time, previous to his removal to Bullock’s Creek, S.C., where he ended his days.  Mr. Alexander was a fine scholar, having graduated at Princeton College, and through his influence, confirmed by that of the Alexanders and Polks, Waightstill Avery, Dr. Ephraim Brevard and others, residing in or near Charlotte, vigorous efforts were made to elevate the Sugar Creek school to the rank and usefulness of a college; nor were their efforts in vain.  The Colonial Legislature which met at Newbern, in December, 1770, passed an Act entitled “An Act for founding, establishing and endowing of Queen’s College, in the town of Charlotte.”  This charter, not suiting the intolerant notions of royalty, was set aside by the King and council; afterward amended; a second time granted by the Colonial Legislature, in 1771, and a second time repealed by royal proclamation.

“And,” enquires a writer in the “University Magazine,” of North Carolina, “why was this?” An easy answer is found in the third section of the act for incorporating the school at Newbern, and afterward engrafted upon the act incorporating the Edenton Academy (which were the only two schools incorporated before Queen’s College), compared with the character of the leading men of Mecklenburg, and the fact that several of the Trustees of the new College were Presbyterian ministers.  No compliments to his queen could render Whigs in politics, and Presbyterians in religion, acceptable to George III.

A College, under such auspices, was too well calculated to insure the growth of the “numerous democracy.”

The section referred to in the charter of the Newbern school, is in these words: 

“Provided always, that no person shall be permitted to be master of said school, but who is of the Established Church of England, and who, at the recommendation of the trustees or directors, or a majority of them, shall be duly licensed by the Governor! or Commander-in-Chief for the time being.”

“The Presbyterians,” says Lossing, “who were very numerous, resolved to have a seminary of their own, and applied for an unrestricted charter for a college.  It was granted; but notwithstanding it was called Queen’s College, in compliment to the consort of the King, and was located in a town called by her name, and in a county of the same name as her birth-place, the charter was repealed in 1771 by royal decree.  The triple compliment was of no avail."[K]