Old South Lecture by J. K. Hosmer

The second of the series of Old South lectures on the history of Harvard was delivered last night at the Old South Meeting House by James K. Hosmer '55 on "The First Century of Harvard College."

The first century of the College's history may be said to end with the year 1740, for the College did not really come into existence before it received Harvard's bequest. It is sometimes said that John Harvard was not the true founder of the College that bears his name, and that he was but the first of its many benefactors. The importance of his gift, however, may be estimated from the fact that although the General Court had appropriated $2000 for the College, it was not paid, and the Court was so poor that it was forced to borrow $1000 of Harvard's bequest.

The first century of Harvard College may be divided into three parts: the first period, the time of the old New England theocracy, coeval with the existence of the Commonwealth in England; the second period, an uncertain time, during which the old charter of the College was revoked, and a new and more liberal charter granted by William and Mary; and the third period, extending through the provincial days to the first stirrings of the Revolution.

In all these periods Harvard graduated men who became leaders both in America and in England--George Downing, who became Cromwell's lieutenant and helped the cause of freedom in England; Samuel Adams, who organized the Committee of Correspondence and helped the cause of freedom in America; Increase Mather, long president of the College, and the man who secured the new charter from William and Mary; Thomas Hutchinson, in his day the most eminent citizen of the country.