Washington College is a private liberal arts college in Chestertown, Maryland, founded in 1782 — making it one of the oldest colleges in the United States and the only one to have been personally endorsed by George Washington, who was one of its original patrons and honorary degree recipients. The college is known for its small class sizes, the Sophie Kerr Prize (the largest undergraduate literary prize in the country), and strong programs in English, environmental studies, political science, and history. Washington College sits on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay.