William Feiner | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 15th President of Georgetown College | |
| In office 1826–1829 | |
| Preceded by | Stephen L. Dubuisson |
| Succeeded by | John W. Beschter |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Wilhelm Feiner December 27, 1792 Münster, Prince-Bishopric of Münster, Holy Roman Empire |
| Died | June 9, 1829 (aged 36) Georgetown, District of Columbia, U.S.[a] |
William Feiner SJ (born Wilhelm Feiner; December 27, 1792 – June 9, 1829) was a German Catholic priest and Jesuit who became a missionary to the United States and eventually the president of Georgetown College, now known as Georgetown University.
Born in Münster, he taught in Jesuit schools in the Russian Empire and Polish Galicia as a young member of the Society of Jesus. He then emigrated to the United States several years after the restoration of the Society, taking up pastoral work and teaching theology in Conewago, Pennsylvania, before becoming a full-time professor at Georgetown College. There, he also became the second dedicated librarian of Georgetown's library. Eventually, Feiner became president of the college in 1826. While president, he taught theology at Georgetown and ministered to the congregation at Holy Trinity Church.
Despite being the leader of an American university, he never mastered the English language. Long plagued by poor health due to tuberculosis, his short-lived presidency ended after three years, just weeks before his death.
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