Johns Hopkins University Founder

As you may know, Johns Hopkins wanted to found a university where students of all kinds could experience advanced learning that he was not able to access. At the request of Mr. Hopkins, an incorporation was formed, August 24, 1867, under a general statute, "for the promotion of education in the State of Maryland." On June 13, 1870 Johns and a board of trustees that he had chosen began their work. Upon his death on December 24, 1873, the Johns Hopkins University was bequeathed $3,500,000.

The gift to the university included his estate, Clifton, where he had hoped to have the university built. On December 24, 1874, the trustees elected Daniel O. Gillman as the first President. The trustees spent the next few years studying top ranking universities. They visited universities in America and Europe. They added what they learned to the directions/requirements that Mr. Hopkins had given them for the founding of Johns Hopkins University. The University opened for its first students in October, 1876.

The university went on to develop a top notch Medical School that was attached to Johns Hopkins Hospital. Mr. Hopkins' direction insisted that the choice of professors had to come with very high standards and be experts in their chosen fields. The University, includes other academic departments but, it was focused on science, technology, and medicine.

The University will celebrate its 150th year anniversary beginning in February 2026.

Below are some old black and white photos from the first few years of the university.