John Harvard (November 1607-September 14, 1638) was the first benefactor of Harvard College. Born in London, he emigrated to Massachusetts, 1637, and served as Charlestown's minister. He bequeathed his library and half of his estate for the founding of the first college in America, which was subsequently named in his honor, 1639, as recorded in the Old South Leaflets:
<After God had carried us safe to New-England, and wee had builded our houses, provided necessaries for our livelihood, rear'd convenient places for God's worship, and settled the Civill Government: One of the next things we longed for, and looked after was to advance Learning and to perpetuate it to Posterity; dreading to leave an illiterate Ministry to the Churches, when our present Ministers shall lie in the Dust.
And as wee were thinking and consulting how to effect this great Work, it pleased God to stir up the heart of one Mr. Harvard, a godly gentleman and a lover of learning there living amongst us, to give the one half of his estate...towards the erecting of a college and all his Library.> 1607JH001
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1607JH001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). John Harvard, 1642, Old South Leaflets. Peter Marshall and David Manuel, The Glory of America (Bloomington, MN: Garborg's Heart'N Home, Inc., 1991), 9.28. "New England's First Fruits in Respect to the Progress of Learning in the College at Cambridge in Massachusetts Bay," in Verna M. Hall, comp., and Rosalie J. Slater, developer, Teaching and Learning America's Christian History (San Francisco: Foundation for American Christian Education, 1975), frontpiece. Peter G. Mode, ed., Sourcebook and Bibliography Guide for American Church History (Menasha, WI: George Banta Publishing Company, 1920), pp. 73-74. Pat Robertson, America's Dates With Destiny (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1986), pp. 43-44.