John Harvard (clergyman)

John Harvard (* November 26, 1607 in the London Borough of Southwark; † 14 September or September 24, 1638 in Charlestown, Massachusetts) was a Puritan theologian, who grew up in England.

Harvard made ​​1632 his theology degree from Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He emigrated in 1637 with his wife to New England and settled near Boston in Charlestown (Massachusetts), where he was active as an ordained teacher. He died the following year of tuberculosis.

Since he had no children, he bequeathed half of his fortune and his library, which included 260 volumes, which is situated in the neighboring Cambridge College, which was founded in 1636 by English colonists. In his honor, the school received its name. The later Harvard University, one of the leading and oldest universities in the United States / USA, originate here.