On September 14, 1638, John Harvard, a 31-year-old clergyman from Charlestown, Massachusetts, died, leaving his library and half his estate to a local, newly established college.

• 1638年9月14日，约翰哈佛，一个麻州查尔斯敦的31岁的神职人员，约翰哈佛逝世，他捐出他的图书馆及一半财产给一所地区性、刚成立的大学。