John Harvard

John Harvard
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Name	John Harvard
Birth date	1607
Birth place	Southwark, London, England
Death date	1638
Death place	Charlestown, Massachusetts, Massachusetts Bay Colony
Occupation	Clergyman, Philanthropist

John Harvard was a young clergyman who graduated from Emmanuel College, Cambridge and later moved to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in New England. He was a member of the Church of England and had strong connections with Puritan leaders such as John Cotton and John Winthrop. Harvard's life and legacy are closely tied to the early history of Harvard University, which was named in his honor due to his generous bequest to the institution. His story is also linked to the American Colonies, the British Empire, and the Protestant Reformation.

● Early Life and Education

John Harvard was born in Southwark, London, England in 1607 to a family of modest means, including his father Robert Harvard and his mother Katherine Rogers. He attended St Saviour's Grammar School and later enrolled in Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he studied under the guidance of John Preston and William Perkins. During his time at Cambridge University, Harvard was influenced by the ideas of Puritan thinkers such as William Ames and Richard Sibbes. He graduated from Emmanuel College, Cambridge in 1632 and was later ordained as a clergyman in the Church of England.

● Career

After his ordination, Harvard worked as a clergyman in Wales and later moved to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in New England, where he became friends with prominent Puritan leaders such as John Cotton and John Winthrop. He was also acquainted with other notable figures of the time, including Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson. Harvard's career was marked by his commitment to the Puritan cause and his support for the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was a member of the First Church in Charlestown and played an active role in the community, interacting with people like Increase Mather and Cotton Mather.

● Legacy

John Harvard's legacy is closely tied to the early history of Harvard University, which was named in his honor due to his generous bequest to the institution. The university was originally called New College or the college at New Towne, but it was later renamed Harvard College in 1639 in recognition of Harvard's contribution. Harvard's bequest included a significant portion of his library and a large sum of money, which helped to establish the university as a major center of learning in the American Colonies. His legacy is also linked to the British Empire, the Protestant Reformation, and the History of the United States. Other institutions, such as Yale University and Dartmouth College, also have connections to the early history of Harvard University and the Puritan movement.

● Death and Burial

John Harvard died of tuberculosis in 1638 in Charlestown, Massachusetts, Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was buried in the Phipps Street Burying Ground in Charlestown, Massachusetts, where many other notable figures of the time, including John Cotton and Increase Mather, were also buried. Harvard's death was a significant loss to the Puritan community in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, but his legacy lived on through the institution that was named in his honor. His connections to the Church of England and the British Monarchy, including King Charles I and King James I, are also notable.

● Historical Significance

John Harvard's historical significance extends beyond his connection to Harvard University. He was a part of a larger movement of Puritan thinkers and leaders who played a major role in shaping the early history of the American Colonies. His story is linked to the Mayflower Compact, the Pilgrims, and the Salem witch trials. Harvard's legacy is also connected to the History of the United States, the American Revolution, and the United States Constitution. Other notable figures, such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln, have also been influenced by the Puritan ideals and the early history of Harvard University. The Library of Congress and the National Archives also contain important documents and records related to Harvard's life and legacy, including the Magnus Carta and the Treaty of Paris. Category:Historical figures