1766

On November 10, William Franklin, the last Colonial governor of New Jersey and Benjamin Franklin's illegitimate son, signs the charter that brings Queen's College into existence. Established to train young men for the ministry in the Dutch Reformed Church, the new college is named in honor of Charlotte of Mecklenburg, consort of King George III.

1771

In May, the Board of Trustees votes, 10-7, to establish Queen's College in New Brunswick. Runner-up: Hackensack. The first classes are held in November in a downtown tavern, the Sign of the Red Lion, on the corner of Albany and Neilson streets. Teaching the college's handful of students is Frederick Frelinghuysen, 18-year-old stepson of the college's president.

1774

Queen's College holds its first commencement exercises. Nineteen-year-old Matthew Leydt is the entire graduating class.

1776

The college's tutor, John Taylor, joins the Revolutionary Army as a captain and is followed into service by a number of his students. With General Howe pursuing Washington through New Jersey, classes are held sporadically in private homes around the New Brunswick area.

1783

The Political Intelligencer and New Jersey Adviser, said to be the first newspaper published under the auspices of an American college, begins publication. The four-page paper folds two years later.

1793

With the fledgling college falling on hard times, the board of trustees votes on a resoluton to merge with Princeton. The measure fails by one vote.

1795

Lacking both funds and tutors, the trustees consider moving the college to New York. Instead, they decide to close.