The university's first chancellor was Joseph Gibson Hoyt. Crow secured the university charter from the Missouri General Assembly in 1853, and <answer>Eliot</answer> was named President of the Board of Trustees. Early on, <answer>Eliot</answer> solicited support from members of the local business community, including John O'Fallon, but <answer>Eliot</answer> failed to secure a permanent endowment. Washington University is unusual among major American universities in not having had a prior financial endowment. The institution had no backing of a religious organization, single wealthy patron, or earmarked government support.
Who was the first president of Washington University?
Eliot