Certainly one of the most controversial and yet immensely gifted individuals was Constantine Samuel Rafinesque who was so admired by the institution that after he died in Philadelphia his body was brought back and entombed in Old Morrison, the only faculty member so honored.

The outstanding surgeon, Benjamin Dudley, who had trained not only in Philadelphia but in London and Paris as well, became the mainstay of the medical department,
Holley was also dedicated to enhancing the quality of the law department.  He recruited Jesse Bledsoe and William T.  Barry.  Both were born in Virginia, both educated at Transylvania.  Barry completed his law studies at William and Mary and returned to Lexington to practice law and then teach.  Later he became a U.S.  Senator, Lt-Governor, and then appointed postmaster general of the U.S. by President Andrew Jackson.  A few years later George Robertson became a teacher in the law department.  He was Chief Justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court.  One of his most famous students was John Harlan whom President Hayes appointed as an associate justice of the U.S.  Supreme Court. To house this expanding university, the trustees erected a handsome three- storied structure in 1818 on the upper part of Gratz Park, facing south, and a refectory later known as Gratz kitchen. 

Holley was intent on making Transylvania a major western state university, and the non-denominational character of its charter enabled the Kentucky legislature to involve itself in university affairs and appropriate money for its support.  Such a school attracted the best and brightest youth from many southern states who were adverse to traveling great distances to northeastern schools and who may have shared Thomas Jefferson’s views that if he had a preference between northern schools and Kentucky’s he would rather it should be “to Kentucky than any other state, because she has more flavor of the old cask than any other.” Indeed, Holley had made a point of visiting Jefferson at Monticello on his way to Lexington to discuss the future of Transylvania at the time Jefferson was still trying to establish the University of Virginia.  Students from southern states would certainly have found Lexington more congenial to their southern cultural outlook.  It was during these years that the young men destined to become leaders in all areas of U.S. society came to Transylvania. 

The prosperity of Transylvania enhanced the prosperity of Lexington as students not only spent money in the town but also in their theatrical performances, debating societies and public lectures enriched the cultural life of the community. 

In these years Transylvania sent large numbers of lawyers and doctors into southern states.  It was unfortunate, therefore, both for Lexington and Transylvania that growing denominational hostility and changing political attitudes towards Holley and the school led to a drying up of essential state support.