Robert Ryland was the first president of Richmond College, serving from 1840 to 1866. Prior to the establishment of the college, he had served as the only superintendent of its predecessor institution, the Virginia Baptist Seminary, since 1832.
In 1830, he married Josephine Norvell, daughter of Thomas and Ann Mosby Norvell. They had two sons and two daughters before Josephine died in 1846. Robert remarried in 1848 to Elizabeth Presley "Betty" Thornton (daughter of Anthony and Ann Thornton), with whom he had three daughters. == Death ==