The American Cyclopædia (1879)/Harvard, John

HARVARD, John, the founder of Harvard college, born in England, probably in Middlesex, died in Charlestown, Mass., Sept. 24, 1638. He was educated at the university of Cambridge, and having emigrated to America was made a freeman of the colony of Massachusetts, Nov. 2, 1637. The following year, as appears from the town records, a portion of land was set off for him in Charlestown, where he exercised the ministry. In April, 1638, he was appointed one of a committee “to consider of some things tending toward a body of laws.” These are the only particulars known of his life. His property at his death was worth about £1,500, one half of which he gave for the erection of the college which bears his name; but part of this bequest, we are told, was diverted from its original purpose. He also left to the college a library of more than 300 volumes. A monument to his memory was erected in the burial ground of Charlestown by the alumni of the university, and inaugurated with an address by Edward Everett, Sept. 26, 1828.