John Harvard (clergyman)
Encyclopedia
John Harvard was an English minister in America whose deathbed
bequest to the Massachusetts Bay Colony
's fledgling New College was so gratefully received that the school was renamed Harvard College
in his honor.
, England, the fourth of nine children born to Robert Harvard (1562–1625), a butcher and tavern owner, and his wife Katherine Rogers (1584–1635), a native of Stratford-upon-Avon
whose father Thomas Rogers (1540–1611) may have been an associate of Shakespeare's father. He was baptised at what is now Southwark Cathedral
and attended St Saviour's Grammar School, where his father was a governor.
In 1625 the plague
reduced the immediate family to John, a brother Thomas, and their mother. Katherine was soon remarried—first to John Elletson (1580–1626), who died within a few months, then (1627) to Richard Yearwood
(1580–1632). She died in 1635, Thomas in 1637.
Harvard entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge
(a constituent college of the University of Cambridge
) in 1627, earning his B.A. in 1632 and M.A. in 1635. In 1636 he married Ann Sadler (1614–55) of Ringmer
, sister of his college classmate John Sadler.
In the spring or summer of 1637 the couple emigrated to Massachusetts and settled in Charlestown, where Harvard became a teaching elder of the First Church of Charlestown, and assistant preacher. On September 14, 1638 he died of tuberculosis
. He was buried at Charlestown's Phipps Street Burying Ground
. Harvard students erected a granite obelisk monument there in 1838; his original stone had disappeared during the American Revolution
.
, though he was its first benefactor.
Two years before his death the Massachusetts colony, desiring to "advance learning and perpetuate it to posterity: dreading to leave an illiterate ministry to the churches, when our present ministers shall lie in the dust", had determined to establish a school.
The childless Harvard, who had inherited considerable sums from his father, mother, and brother,
bequeathed £
780 (half of his monetary estate) as well as (perhaps more importantly) his 400-volume library to what had been called the New College—which was soon renamed Harvard College.
The settlement surrounding the college, previously called Newtowne, was also rechristened—to Cambridge, after the university where Harvard and many other degree-holding early colonists received their educations.
A statue in Harvard's honor (though not a likeness of him, there being no contemporary portrait to indicate what he looked like) is a prominent feature of the Harvard Yard
. The Harvard Bridge
(connecting Boston to Cambridge) is named for him, as is the John Harvard Library
in Southwark.
In 1986 the United States Postal Service issued a 56-cent John Harvard stamp as part of its Great Americans series
.
bequest to the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
's fledgling New College was so gratefully received that the school was renamed Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
in his honor.
Biography
Harvard was born and raised in SouthwarkSouthwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
, England, the fourth of nine children born to Robert Harvard (1562–1625), a butcher and tavern owner, and his wife Katherine Rogers (1584–1635), a native of Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
whose father Thomas Rogers (1540–1611) may have been an associate of Shakespeare's father. He was baptised at what is now Southwark Cathedral
Southwark Cathedral
Southwark Cathedral or The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie, Southwark, London, lies on the south bank of the River Thames close to London Bridge....
and attended St Saviour's Grammar School, where his father was a governor.
In 1625 the plague
Bubonic plague
Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
reduced the immediate family to John, a brother Thomas, and their mother. Katherine was soon remarried—first to John Elletson (1580–1626), who died within a few months, then (1627) to Richard Yearwood
Richard Yarward
Richard Yarward was an English politician. From 1621 to 1622, he was the Member of Parliament for Southwark, London. He is identified in the Dictionary of National Biography, under the name Yarwood or Yearwood, with the stepfather of John Harvard who was a Southwark grocer....
(1580–1632). She died in 1635, Thomas in 1637.
Harvard entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
(a constituent college of the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
) in 1627, earning his B.A. in 1632 and M.A. in 1635. In 1636 he married Ann Sadler (1614–55) of Ringmer
Ringmer
Ringmer is a village and civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex, England. The village is located three miles east of Lewes. Other small settlements in the parish include Upper Wellingham, Ashton Green, Broyle Side and Little Norlington....
, sister of his college classmate John Sadler.
In the spring or summer of 1637 the couple emigrated to Massachusetts and settled in Charlestown, where Harvard became a teaching elder of the First Church of Charlestown, and assistant preacher. On September 14, 1638 he died of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. He was buried at Charlestown's Phipps Street Burying Ground
Phipps Street Burying Ground
Phipps Street Burying Ground is a historic cemetery on Phipps Street in Charlestown, Massachusetts, a neighborhood of Boston.The burial ground was created in 1630, the first cemetery in Boston...
. Harvard students erected a granite obelisk monument there in 1838; his original stone had disappeared during the American Revolution
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
Benefactor of Harvard College
John Harvard was not, as often said, the founder of Harvard CollegeHarvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
, though he was its first benefactor.
Two years before his death the Massachusetts colony, desiring to "advance learning and perpetuate it to posterity: dreading to leave an illiterate ministry to the churches, when our present ministers shall lie in the dust", had determined to establish a school.
The childless Harvard, who had inherited considerable sums from his father, mother, and brother,
bequeathed £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
780 (half of his monetary estate) as well as (perhaps more importantly) his 400-volume library to what had been called the New College—which was soon renamed Harvard College.
The settlement surrounding the college, previously called Newtowne, was also rechristened—to Cambridge, after the university where Harvard and many other degree-holding early colonists received their educations.
A statue in Harvard's honor (though not a likeness of him, there being no contemporary portrait to indicate what he looked like) is a prominent feature of the Harvard Yard
Harvard Yard
Harvard Yard is a grassy area of about , adjacent to Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that constitutes the oldest part and the center of the campus of Harvard University...
. The Harvard Bridge
Harvard Bridge
The Harvard Bridge carries Massachusetts Avenue from Back Bay, Boston to Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is the longest bridge over the Charles River....
(connecting Boston to Cambridge) is named for him, as is the John Harvard Library
John Harvard Library
John Harvard Library is a public lending library on Borough High Street in Southwark, London. The Southwark Local History Library is adjacent....
in Southwark.
In 1986 the United States Postal Service issued a 56-cent John Harvard stamp as part of its Great Americans series
Great Americans series
The Great Americans series is a set of definitive stamps issued by the United States Postal Service, starting on December 27, 1980 with the 19¢ stamp depicting Sequoyah, and continuing through 2002, the final stamp being the 78¢ Alice Paul self-adhesive stamp. The series, noted for its simplicity...
.
External links
- John Harvard as depicted on a cigar label from the early part of the 20th Century
- Harvard House The home of Katherine Rogers in Stratford-Upon-Avon
- St. Saviour's & St. Olave's School
- Film Honors John Harvard’s 400th article about 2007 film starring Harvard undergraduates
- John Harvard in the Smithsonian's Inventory of American Sculpture
- The Harvard Crimson, "The Truth About John Harvard", December 18, 2006 (Memorial at Southwark CathedralSouthwark CathedralSouthwark Cathedral or The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie, Southwark, London, lies on the south bank of the River Thames close to London Bridge....
)
