Born March 21, 1810 in Virginia, Garland graduated in 1829 from Hampdon Sidney College. He taught chemistry and natural philosophy at Washington College (Lexington, Virginia), c1829-1830, and taught chemistry and natural history at Randolph-Macon College, 1833-1834, eventually being elected chair of the department. In 1837, he was elected president of Randolph-Macon College. In 1854, he was elected president of the University of Alabama. During the Civil War, the University of Alabama was burned to the ground. After a year of trying to rebuild the university, Garland accepted the chair of philosophy and astronomy at the University of Mississippi in 1867. He remained there until coming to Vanderbilt University in 1875 to take up the position as chancellor. He died February 13, 1895.