Harvard (John) is born in Southwick, England (London-Bahne).

John Harvard studies at Cambridge University, becomes a minister, and arrives in Boston on board the Hector on June 30, 1637. He lives in a house at today’s 6 City Square, serves briefly as Teacher at the First Church in Charlestown, dies of consumption September 14, 1638, and is buried in Phipps Street Burying Ground. Harvard leaves half his estate (779 pounds, 17 shillings, and two pence sterling) and his 320-book library to the newly-established New College in Cambridge (then Newtowne), which is renamed in his honor in 1639.