Bennett Puryear, Class of 1847 (A.B.) and 1850 (A.M.)

Puryear served as a professor at Richmond College prior to his appointment in 1858 as professor of chemistry at Randolph-Macon College, where he held that role at least through 1862.  He enlisted as a private in Co. E of the 14th VA Infantry. He surrendered on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Court House. Nothing else of his war service has been recorded.

After the war, he became Professor of Natural Science at Richmond College (now University of Richmond) in Richmond, VA, where the chemistry building is named for him. Puryear was also a Baptist minister. He died March 30, 1914 and is buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA.