The Founding of Yale College

By Bruce P. Stark

As early as the 1640s the Reverend John Davenport (1587-1669/70) dreamed of establishing a college in New Haven. Yet it was not until 1701 that the Reverend James Pierpont (1659/60-1714), pastor of the First Church in New Haven, and several other ministers from towns along the Connecticut shore persuaded the Connecticut General Assembly to pass an "Act for Liberty to erect a Collegiate School."

In November 1701 the trustees of the Collegiate School met in Saybrook, gathered together some forty volumes from their own small libraries, drew up a course of study, designated the Reverend Abraham Pierson (1645-1707) of Killingworth as rector, and chose Saybrook as the site for the College. The first students studied in Killingworth, however, because Pierson's congregation refused to release him from his pastoral duties. After his death the students removed to Saybrook, but the trustees voted in October 1716 to move the struggling College to New Haven. New Haven was chosen over Wethersfield and Saybrook because it pledged the most money to support the Collegiate School and because a majority of the trustees present and voting were from the New Haven area. The choice was opposed by the Hartford trustees and a two-year struggle ensued with students split among tutors in Wethersfield, New Haven, and Saybrook before the majority with the strong support of Governor Gurdon Saltonstall (1666-1724) prevailed.

In 1718 the first College building was constructed near the southwest corner of the New Haven Green. The monetary difficulties of the young College were relieved by a generous gift from Elihu Yale (1649-1721) of goods worth more than £550, 417 books, a portrait of George I, and the royal coat of arms. These gifts and the expectation of additional support from Mr. Yale prompted the hopeful trustees to name the new College building and the Collegiate School Yale College, but Yale died intestate before making any additional donations.

Despite leadership problems that culminated in 1722 with Rector Timothy Cutler (1684-1765) and several tutors deserting the Congregational Church for the Church of England, Yale College grew and prospered in New Haven, serving as the primary vehicle for educating the political and religious leaders of Connecticut for generations.

For Further Reading

Pierson, George W. Yale: A Short History. New Haven, Connecticut, 1976.

Warch, Richard. School of the Prophets: Yale College, 1701-1740. New Haven, Connecticut, 1973.

* Entry under revision.