In 1870 Leander decided to donate the largest telescope in the world to his home state of Virginia . However , the financial impact of the American Civil War on Virginia as well as the impact of the Great Chicago Fire on his own finances , delayed his effort . In addition to the University of Virginia , for years he was also considering Washington College ( later Washington and Lee University ) in Lexington , Virginia , since it was located much closer to the family homestead . In 1870 , Robert E. Lee , who was then president of Washington College , sent a letter of introduction to Joseph Henry , secretary of the Smithsonian Institution , making known McCormick 's wishes to establish an astronomical observatory in the state . It was largely through the efforts of Charles Scott Venable ( aide-de-camp to Gen. Robert E. Lee from 1862 to 1865 and professor of mathematics at the University of Virginia from 1865 to 1896 ) that McCormick finally decided to make his gift to the University of Virginia in 1877 . In 1878 , the University of Virginia officially received McCormick 's donation of the telescope . This was followed in 1881 by a donation of $ 18,000 for the observatory itself , contingent on the University 's raising the funds to endow the professorship
Great Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
McCormick Observatory