The Rev. George Whitefield

The Reverend George Whitefield
Bachelor of Arts, 1736,
Pembroke College, Oxford
Humble Disciple of Jesus Christ
Eloquent Preacher of the Gospel

The University of Pennsylvania held its first sessions in a building erected for his congregation, and was aided by his collections, guided by his counsel, inspired by his life.
Zealous advocate and patron of higher education in the American Colonies. The Charity School of 1740, the beginning of the University of Pennsylvania, was a fruit of his ministry.

"I knew him intimately upwards of thirty years. His integrity, disinterestedness and indefatigable zeal in prosecuting every good work I have never seen equaled and shall never see excelled."

- French Statesman Turgot

Pictured here at 37th and Locust Walk with his Pennsylvania Gazette, Ben Franklin was elected to the Royal Society in 1756 and to the French Academy of Sciences in 1772. Known as a printer, essayist, moralist, civic leader, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, and philosopher, he also founded a college in his own Philadelphia, which was later named "The University of Pennyslvania."

"…Benjamin Franklin presented to the men and women of Philadelphia in the fall of 1749 his vision of a school to be known as the 'Publick Academy of Philadelphia'…an innovative concept of higher education, one which simultaneously taught both the ornamental knowledge of the arts and the practical skills necessary for making a living…[unlike the four predeeding colleges, for educating the clergy]." 1 "The Academy of Philadelphia opened in 1751 in the building which once housed George Whitfield's charity tabernacle on Philadelphia's Fourth Street, near Arch." 2

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1/ Steven Morgan Friedman, B.A. College of Arts and Sciences '98, at http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/genlhistory/brief.html
2/ http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/philadelphia/education.htm