John Havard: The man who's name is on the World's Best University, Havard

John Harvard (1607–1638), an English Puritan minister who settled in Colonial New England, became a key benefactor of the college established by the Massachusetts Bay Colony two years before his death. Upon his passing, he left a generous donation and his personal library to the institution. In gratitude, the colony named the school "Harvard College" in his honor.

Harvard was born in Southwark, England, and earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. In 1637, he moved to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in what was then British America. There, he served as a teaching elder and assistant preacher at Charlestown’s First Church.

Harvard was the fourth of nine children born to Robert Harvard, a butcher and tavern keeper, and Katherine Rogers, originally from Stratford-upon-Avon. His maternal grandfather, Thomas Rogers, once served on a local council alongside John Shakespeare, father of William Shakespeare.

John Harvard was baptized at St. Saviour’s Church (now Southwark Cathedral) and attended the local grammar school, where his father was active in church and school affairs. His grandparents’ rebuilt home in Stratford-upon-Avon, known today as ‘Harvard House,’ still stands.

In 1625, the bubonic plague claimed most of Harvard's family, leaving only him, his brother Thomas, and their mother, Katherine. She remarried twice—first to John Elletson, who died the same year, and then to Richard Yearwood, who passed in 1632. Katherine died in 1635, and Thomas followed in 1637.

That same year, the couple emigrated to New England. Harvard was granted freeman status in Massachusetts, settled in Charlestown, and served as a teaching elder and assistant preacher, though records don’t confirm if he was officially ordained. In 1638, he received a plot of land and was appointed to a committee tasked with drafting legal codes.

Thanks to some inherited property, Katherine was able to fund John’s education. He entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge, as a paying student in December 1627, completed his B.A. in 1632, and his M.A. in 1635.

John married Ann Sadler, the sister of his college friend John Sadler, on April 19 in either 1636 or 1637 at a church in South Malling, Lewes.

He built a home on what is now Main Street in Charlestown, next to what became known as John Harvard Mall. His orchard stretched up the hill behind the house.

Harvard passed away from tuberculosis in 1638 at the tender age of 30. In his will, he left a significant sum of money and a 400-volume library to the new college. In appreciation, the institution was named after him. Today, Harvard University regards him as one of its most significant founders, commemorating him with a statue in Harvard Yard.

Founding "Myth"

In 1884, Daniel Chester French created the famous statue, and Sherman Hoar sat as a model for the head of John Harvard. Hoar later went on to serve as a member of Congress and a US district attorney.

An article on the Harvard Summer School website claims that there are three myths that surround Harvard's name on the university, including the idea that he founded the university and that he is the real person behind the well-known statue at Harvard University.

According to the article, it isn't John Harvard's image in the statue at the Harvard Yard. Although the statue's base bears the name "John Harvard" inscribed in stone, the resemblance is not that of John Harvard. Harvard is actually not represented by any living people.

Full pictorial view of Harvard statue (Photo: Harvard Magazine)

Secondly, John Harvard wasn't the founder of Harvard University. Engraving on the statue at the yards states "founder," but he's not the actual founder of the school. Actually, Harvard didn't even attend the college (in the days of Harvard, it was called New College). He was the first major benefactor to the university. He donated half of his estate and his library, which consisted of over 400 books.

Harvard University was officially founded by a vote by the Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

The last mentioned myth is that Harvard University wasn't founded in 1638, a year when John Harvard was in the scene. Harvard University was founded in 1636. This gives Harvard the honor of being the oldest institution of higher education in the United States.

Harvard was originally called the New College. And its mission was to train clergy. Harvard received its official famous name on March 13, 1639, named for the renowned benefactor seated in “lies.”