John Harvard

1607–1638

John Harvard was born and raised in England, near the south bank of the Thames. The fourth of nine children, he attended St Saviour’s Grammar School, where his father was a governor. Tragedy struck the family in 1625, when his father, a stepsister, and two brothers were killed by the plague. His mother remarried twice; first to John Elletson, who died soon after their marriage, and then to Richard Yearwood. Meanwhile, John entered Emmanuel College in Cambridge and emerged with his B.A. in 1632.

Harvard’s mother died in 1635, and within the next two years John had married Ann Sadler and immigrated with her to New England, where they settled in Charlestown. Once there, he was made minister of the Church, but he only remained in that post for one year before contracting tuberculosis and passing away quietly. Because he had no children, he bequeathed half of his estate to a new college that had been built in 1636—a college that, after John’s death, would be renamed “Harvard” in memory of his great donation.

Key events during the life of John Harvard:

Year	Event
1607	Born.
1625	Father, sister, and two brothers died of the plague.
1626	Mother married John Elletson; he died only a few months later.
1627	Mother married Richard Yearwood.
	Entered Emmanuel College in Cambridge.
1632	Received his B.A.
1635	Mother died.
1636	Married Ann Sadler.
1637	Immigrated with his wife to New England, where he was made minister of the Church.
1638	Died after contracting tuberculosis.
1639	New College is renamed Harvard College in his honor.

Other Resources

Story Links	Book Links
Founding of Harvard  in	This Country of Ours  by  H. E. Marshall

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Harry Vane	Early governor of the Plymouth colony in Massachusetts. Later was beheaded during the English Civil Wars.
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