The University of Texas at Austin Texas Tribute

Dueling Donors:
The Brackenridge-Littlefield Feud

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George Washington Littlefield George Washington Brackenridge

Two Texas philanthropists, both named after the nation's first president. During the Civil War, one sided with the Union, the other was wounded fighting for the Confederate cavalry. Perhaps the war was the source of their lifelong feud.

George Washington Brackenridge and George Washington Littlefield became generous benefactors of the young University of Texas, and both men served on the Board of Regents for many of the early years. Did this common interest help to reconcile their differences?

Hardly.

Brackenridge and Littlefield remained bitter rivals until the very end.

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