Trustees of Dartmouth College v. Woodward, 17…
February 1819 CE
The Supreme Court under John Marshall rules in favor of Dartmouth College on February 2, 1819 (Dartmouth College v. Woodward), allowing Dartmouth to keep its charter and remain a private institution.
The case had arisen when the president of Dartmouth College was deposed by its trustees, leading to the New Hampshire legislature attempting to force the college to become a public institution and thereby place the ability to appoint trustees in the hands of the governor of New Hampshire.
The Supreme Court upheld the sanctity of the original charter of the college, which predated the creation of the State.
The decision settles the nature of public versus private charters and results in the rise of the American business corporation and the American free enterprise system.