(November 1607–September 14, 1638), was the first benefactor of Harvard College. Born in London, he emigrated to Massachusetts, 1637, and served as Charlestown’s minister. He bequeathed his library and half of his estate for the founding of the first college in America, which was subsequently named in his honor, 1639, as recorded in the Old South Leaflets:
After God had carried us safe to New-England, and wee had builded our houses, provided necessaries for our livelihood, rear’d convenient places for God’s worship, and settled the Civill Government: One of the next things we longed for, and looked after was to advance Learning and to perpetuate it to Posterity; dreading to leave an illiterate Ministry to the Churches, when our present Ministers shall lie in the Dust.
And as wee were thinking and consulting how to effect this great Work, it pleased God to stir up the heart of one Mr. Harvard, a godly gentleman and a lover of learning there living amongst us, to give the one half of his estate … towards the erecting of a college and all his Library … 243