The
Medical University of South Carolina was incorporated in 1823 as the Medical
College of South Carolina, a private institution of the Medical Society of South Carolina, giving the faculty full
responsibility. Seven Charleston physicians
formed the initial faculty with 30 students enrolled in 1824. The first graduation was on
April 4, 1825. With the exception of the
American Civil War, the college served continuosly, even when
there was a total enrollment of two students. To achieve the financial backing for growth in the twentieth century, the college
was transferred to state ownership and incorporated into the state's higher education system in 1913.