The Charter of Dartmouth College

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GEORGE THE THIRD by the grace of GOD of Great Britain

France and Ireland KING Defender of the Faith, and so forth.—

To all to whom these Presents shall come.

GREETING

[§ 1] WHEREAS it hath been represented to our Trusty and well beloved

JOHN WENTWORTH Esquire Governor and Commander in Chief in and over

our Province of NEW HAMPSHIRE in New England in AMERICA, that the

Reverend ELEAZAR WHEELOCK of Lebanon in the Colony of Connecticut in

New England aforesaid, now Doctor in Divinity, did on or about the year

of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Fifty four, at his own expence,

on his own Estate and Plantation set on foot an INDIAN Charity School and

for several years through the assistance of well-disposed Persons in America,

cloathed, maintained and educated a number of the children of the Indian

Natives, with a view to their carrying the Gospel in their own Language

and spreading the knowledge of the great Redeemer among their Savage

Tribes, and hath actually employ'd a number of them as Missionaries and

Schoolmasters in the Wilderness for that purpose: and by the blessing of

GOD upon the endeavours of said Wheelock the design became reputable

amoung the Indians insomuch that a larger number desired the Education

of their Children in said School; and were also disposed to receive Mission-

aries and Schoolmasters in the Wilderness more than could be supported

by the charitable Contributions in these American Colonies.— [§ 2] WHERE-

UPON the said Eleazar Wheelock thought it expedient that endeavours

should be used to raise Contributions from well disposed Persons in England

for the carrying on and extending said undertaking, And for that purpose

said Eleazar Wheelock requested the Reverend Nathaniel Whitaker now

Doctor in Divinity to go over to England for that purpose, and sent over

with him the Reverend Samson Occom an Indian Minister who had been

educated by the said Wheelock, And to enable the said Whitaker to the more

successful performance of said Work on which he was sent, said Wheelock

gave him a full Power of Attorney by which said Whitaker solicited those

worthy & generous Contributors to the Charity VIZ^t. The Right Honorable

WILLIAM Earl of DARTMOUTH, The Honorable SIR SIDNEY STAFFORD SMYTHE

Knight, one of the Barons of his Majesty's Court of Exchequer, JOHN

THORNTON of Clapham in the County of Surrey Esquire, SAMUEL ROFFEY

of Lincoln's Inn fields in the county of Middlesex Esquire, CHARLES HARDY

of the parish of Saint Mary-le-bonne in said County Esquire, DANIEL WEST

of Christ's church Spitalfields in the County aforesaid Esquire, SAMUEL

SAVAGE of the same place Gentleman, JOSIAH ROBERTS of the parish of Saint

Edmund the King Lombard Street, London Gentleman, and ROBERT KEEN

of the parish of Saint Botolph Aldgate London, Gentleman, to receive the

several Sums of Money which should be contributed, and to be Trustees for

the Contributors to such Charity, which they chearfully agreed to. [§ 3] Where-

upon the said Whitaker did by virtue of said power of Attorney constitute

and appoint the said Earl of Dartmouth Sir Sydney Stafford Smythe, John

Thornton, Samuel Roffey, Charles Hardy & Daniel West Esquires, and

Samuel Savage, Josiah Roberts and Robert Keen Gentlemen to be Trustees

of the Money which had then been contributed, and which should by his means

be contributed for said Purpose; which Trust they have accepted as by their

engrossed Declaration of the same under their Hands and Seals well executed

fully appears, and the same has also been ratified by a deed of Trust well

executed by the said Wheelock;— [§ 4] And the said Wheelock further repre-

sents that he has by power of Attorney for many weighty reason, given

full Power to the said Trustees to fix upon and determine the place for said

School most subservient to the great end in view, and to enable them under-

standingly to give the preference, the said Wheelock has laid before the said

Trustees the several Offers which have been generously made in the several

Governments in America to encourage and invite the settlement of said

School among them for their own private emolument, and the increase of

Learning in their respective places as well as for the furtherance of the

general design in view. [§ 5] And whereas a large number of the Proprietors of

Lands in the western part of this our province of New Hampshire, animated

& excited thereto by the generous example of his Excellency their Governor,

and by the liberal Contributions of many Noblemen and Gentlemen in

England; and especially by the consideration that such a situation would

be as convenient as any for carrying on the great design among the Indians;

and also considering that without the least impediment to the said design

the same School may be enlarged & improved to promote Learning among

the English, & be a means to supply a great number of Churches & con-

gregations which are likely soon to be formed in that new Country with a

leaned & orthodox ministry; they the said Proprietors have promised large

Tracts of Land for the uses aforesaid, provided the School shall be settled

in the western part of our said Province. [§ 6] And they the said Right Hon-

orable, Honorable and worthy Trustees before mentioned having maturely

consider'd the reasons & arguments in favour of the several Places proposed,

have given the preference to the western part of our said Province lying

on Connecticut River, as a situation most convenient for said School; [§ 7] And

the said Wheelock has further represented a necessity of a legal Incorporation

in order to the safety and well being of said Seminary, and its being capable

of the tenure & disposal of Lands & bequests for the use of the same. [§ 8] And

the said Wheelock has also represented that for many weighty reasons it

will be expedient at least in the infancy of said Institution or 'till it can

be accommodated in that new Country and he & his Friends be able to remove

and settle by and round about it, that the Gentlemen whom he has already

nominated in his last Will (which he has transmitted to the aforesaid Gen-

tlemen of the Trust in England) to be Trustees in America should be of the

Corporation now proposed [§ 9] & also as there are already large Collections for

said School in the hands of the aforesaid Gentlemen of the trust in England

and all reason to believe from their singular wisdom, piety and zeal to

promote the Redeemers cause (which has already procured for them the

utmost confidence of the Kingdom) we may expect they will appoint Suc-

cessors in time to come who will be men of the same Spirit whereby great

good may & will accrue many ways to the institution & much be done by

their example and influence to encourage and facilitate the whole design

in view; for which reason said Wheelock desires that the Trustees aforesaid

may be vested with all that power therein which can consist with their dis-

tance from the same [§ 10] KNOW YE THEREFORE, that We considering the Premises

and being willing to encourage the laudable & charitable design of spreading

Christian Knowledge among the Savages of our American Wilderness and

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also that the best means of Education be established in our province of

New Hampshire for the benefit of said province, DO of our special grace

certain knowledge and mere motion by and with the advice of our Council

for said Province by the Presents Will, ordain, grant & constitute that

there be a College erected in our said Province of New Hampshire by the

name of DARTMOUTH COLLEGE [§ 11] for the education & instruction of Youth

of the Indian Tribes in this Land in reading, writing & all parts of Learning

which shall appear necessary and expedient for civilizing & christianizing

Children of Pagans as well as in all liberal Arts and Sciences; and also of

English Youth and any others, [§ 12] and the Trustees of said College may and

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shall be one body corporate and politick in deed action & name, and shall

be called, named & distinguish'd by the Name of the TRUSTEES of DART-

MOUTH COLLEGE And further we have willed given granted constituted

and ordained and by this our present Charter of our special grace certain

knowledge & mere motion with the advice aforesaid DO for us our heirs

and successors forever will give grant constitute & ordain that there shall

be in the said DARTMOUTH COLLEGE from henceforth and forever a body

politick consisting of Trustees of said Dartmouth College [§ 13] And for the more

full & perfect erection of said Corporation & body politick consisting of

Trustees of said Dartmouth College We of our special grace certain knowledge

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& mere motion DO by these Presents for us our Heirs & Successors make

ordain constitute and appoint our trusty and well beloved JOHN WENT-

WORTH, Esquire Governor of our said Province and the GOVERNOR of our

said Province of New Hampshire for the time being and our Trusty and well

beloved THEODORE ATKINSON Esquire now President of our Council of our

said Province GEORGE JAFFREY & DANIEL PIERCE Esquires both of our said

Council and PETER GILMAN Esquire now Speaker of our House of Repre-

sentatives in said Province & WILLIAM PITKIN, Esquire one of the Assistants

of our Colony of Connecticut & our said trusty and well beloved ELEAZAR

WHEELOCK of Lebanon Doctor in Divinity, BENJAMIN POMROY of Hebron

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JAMES LOCKWOOD of Weathersfield TIMOTHY PITKIN & JOHN SMALLEY of

Farmington & WILLIAM PATTEN of Hartford all of our said Colony of

Connecticut Ministers of the Gospel. (the whole number of said Trustees

consisting and hereafter forever to consist of TWELVE & no more) to be

Trustees of said Dartmouth College in this our Province of New Hampshire

[§ 14] And we do further of our special grace certain knowledge and mere motion

for us our Heirs and Successors will give grant and appoint that the said

Trustees & their Successors shall forever hereafter be in deed act & name,

a body corporate & politick & that they the said body corporate & politick

shall be known & distinguished in all deeds grants bargains sales writings

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evidences or otherwise howsoever, & in all Courts forever hereafter plead and

be impleaded by the Name of the Trustees of Dartmouth College [§ 15] and that

the said Corporation by the name aforesaid shall be able and in law capable

for the use of said Dartmouth College to have get acquire purchase receive

hold possess and enjoy tenements hereditaments jurisdictions and fran-

chizes for themselves and their Successors in fee simple or otherwise how-

soever & to purchase receive or build any House or Houses or any other

buildings as they shall think needful & convenient for the use of said Dart-

mouth College and in such Town in the western part of our said Province

of New Hampshire as shall by said Trustees or the major part of them be

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agreed on their said agreement to be evidenced by an instrument in writing

under their hands ascertaining the same And also to receive and dispose

of any Lands goods chattels and other things of what nature soever for the

use aforesaid And also to have accept and receive any rents profits annu-

ities gifts legacies donations or bequests of any kind whatsoever for the use

aforesaid so nevertheless that the yearly value of the Premises do not exceed

the Sum of six thousand pounds Sterling and therewith or otherwise to sup-

port and pay as the said Trustees or the major part of such of them as are

regularly convened for that purpose shall agree the President Tutors and

other Officers & Ministers of said Dartmouth College & also to pay all such

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Missionaries and Schoolmasters as shall be authorized appointed & employed

by them for civilizing & christianizing & instructing the Indian Natives of

this Land their several allowances & also their respective annual Salaries

or allowances & all such necessary & contingent charges as from time to

time shall arise & accrue relating to the said Dartmouth College And

also to bargain sell let or assign Lands tenements or hereditaments goods,

or chattels & all other things whatsoever by the name aforesaid in as full

and ample a manner to all intents and purposes as a natural person or other

body politick or corporate is able to do by the laws of our realm of Great

Britain or of said province of New Hampshire [§ 16] And further of our special

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grace certain knowledge & mere motion to the intent that our said Corpo-

ration and body politick may answer the end of the erection & Constitution,

& may have perpetual succession & continuance forever We do for us our

heirs and Successors will give & grant unto the Trustees of Dartmouth

College & to their Successors forever that there shall be once a year & every

year a meeting of said Trustees held at said Dartmouth College at such

time as by said Trustees or the major part of them at any legal meeting of

said Trustees shall be agreed on the first meeting to be called by the said

Eleazar Wheelock as soon as conveniently maybe within one year next after

the enrollment of these our Letters Patent at such time & place as he shall

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judge proper And the said Trustees or the major part of any seven or more

of them shall then determine on the time for holding the annual Meeting

aforesaid which may be alter'd as they shall hereafter find most convenient

And we further order and direct that the said Eleazar Wheelock shall notify

the time for holding said first meeting to be called as aforesaid by sending a

letter to each of said Trustees & causing an advertizement thereof to be

printed in the New Hampshire Gazette & in some publick News Paper

printed in the Colony of Connecticut But in case of the Death or incapacity

of the said Wheelock then such meeting to be notified in manner aforesaid

by the Governor or Commander in chief of our said Province for the time

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being [§ 17] And we do also for us our Heirs & successors hereby will give and

grant unto the said Trustees of Dartmouth College aforesaid & to their

Successors forever that when any seven or more of the said Trustees or their

Successors are convened & met together for the service of said Dartmouth

College at any time or times such seven or more shall be capable to act as

fully & amply to all intents & purposes as if all the Trustees of said College

were personally present—& all affairs & actions whatsoever under the care

of the said Trustees shall be determined by the majority or greater number

of those seven or more Trustees so convened & met together [§ 18] And we do

further will ordain & direct that the President Trustees, Professors & Tutors

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& all such Officers as shall be appointed for the publick instruction & govern-

ment of said College shall before they undertake the execution of their

Offices or Trusts or within one year after take the Oaths & subscribe the

declaration provided by an act of Parliament made in the first year of King

George the first entitled "An act for the further security of his Majesty's

Person & government & the succession of the crown in the heirs of the late

princess Sophia being Protestants, & for the extinguishing the hopes of the

pretended Prince of Wales & his open & secret Abettors," that is to say the

President before the Governor of our said Province for the time being or by

one by him impowered to that service or by the President of our said Council

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& the Trustees Professors Tutors & other Officers before the President of

said College for the time being who is hereby impower'd to administer the

same an entry of all which shall be made in the Records of said College

[§ 19] And we do for us our heirs & Successors hereby will give & grant full Power

& Authority to the President hereafter by us named & to his Successors

or in case of his failure to any three or more of the said Trustees to

appoint other occasional meetings from time to time of the said seven

Trustees or any greater number of them to transact any matter or thing

necessary to be done before the next annual meeting and to order notice

to the said seven or any greater number of them of the times & places

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of meeting for the service aforesaid by a letter under his or their hands of

the same one month before said meeting Provided always that no standing

Rule or order be made or altered for the regulation of said College nor any

President or Professor be chosen or displaced nor any other matter or thing

transacted or done which shall continue in force after the then next annual

meeting of said Trustees as aforesaid [§ 20] And further we do by these Presents

for us our Heirs and Successors, create make constitute nominate & appoint

or Trusty and well beloved ELEAZAR WHEELOCK Doctor in Divinity the

FOUNDER of said College to be PRESIDENT of said DARTMOUTH COLLEGE

and to have the immediate care of Education & government of such Students

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as shall be admitted into said DARTMOUTH COLLEGE for instruction & edu-

cation and do will give & grant to him in said Office full power authority

& right to nominate appoint constitute & ordain by his last will such suitable

& meet person or Persons as he shall chuse to succeed him in the Presidency

of said Dartmouth College & the person so appointed by his last Will to con-

tinue in office vested with all the powers privileges Jurisdiction & authority

of a President of said Dartmouth College that is to say so long and untill

such appointment by said last Will shall be disapproved by the Trustees

of said Dartmouth College [§ 21] And we do also for us our heirs and Successors

will give & grant to the said Trustees of said Dartmouth College & to their

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Successors forever or any seven or more of them convened as aforesaid that

in the case of the ceasing or failure of a President by any means whatsoever

that the said Trustees do elect nominate & appoint SUCH qualified person

as they or the major part of any seven or more of them convened for that

purpose as above directed shall think fit to be PRESIDENT of said DARTMOUTH

COLLEGE and to have the care of the Education & government of the Stu-

dents as aforesaid [§ 22] & in case of the ceasing of a President as aforesaid the

Senior Professor or Tutor being one of the Trustees shall exercise the Office

of a President untill the Trustees shall make choice of & appoint a President

as aforesaid & such Professor or Tutor or any three or more of the Trustees

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shall immediately appoint a meeting of the body of the Trustees for the

purpose aforesaid [§ 23] AND also we do will give and grant to the said Trustees

convened as aforesaid that they elect nominate & appoint so many Tutors

and Professors to assist the President in the Education & government of

the Students belonging thereto as they the said Trustees shall from time

to time & at any time think needful & serviceable to the interests of said

Dartmouth College And also that the said Trustees or their Successors

or the major part of any seven or more of them convened for that purpose

as above directed shall at any time displace & discharge from the service

of said Dartmouth College any or all such Officers & elect others in their

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room & stead as before directed [§ 24] And also that the said Trustees or their

successors or the major part of any seven of them which shall convene for

that purpose as above directed do from time to time as occasion shall require

elect constitute & appoint a TREASURER a CLERK an USHER & a Steward

for the said DARTMOUTH COLLEGE & appoint to them & each of them their

respective businesses & trusts & displace & discharge from the service of

said College such Treasurer Clerk Usher or Steward & to elect others in their

room & stead [§ 25] which Officers so elected as before directed We do for us our

heirs & successors by these Presents constitute & establish in their respective

Offices & do give to each & every of them full power & Authority to exercise

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the same in said Dartmouth College according to the directions & during

the pleasure of the said Trustees as fully & freely as any like Officers in any

of our Universities Colleges or Seminaries of learning in our Realm of Great

Britain lawfully may or ought to do, [§ 26] & also that the said Trustees & their

Successors or the major part of any seven or more of them which shall con -

vene for that purpose as is above directed as often as one or more of said

Trustees shall die or by removal or otherwise shall according to their judge-

ment become unfit or incapable to serve the interests of said College do as

soon as may be after the Death removal or such unfitness or incapacity of

such Trustee or Trustees elect & appoint such Trustee or Trustees as shall

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supply the place of him or them so dying or becoming incapable to serve

the interests of said College & every Trustee so elected & appointed shall

by virtue of these presents & such election & appointment be vested with

all the Powers & priviledges which any of the other Trustees of said College

are hereby vested with [§ 27] And we do further Will ordain & direct that from

& after the expiration of Two years from the enrollment of these Presents

such vacancy or vacancies as may or shall happen by death or otherwise

in the aforesaid number of Trustees shall be filled up by election as afore-

said so that when such vacancies shall be filled up unto the complete number

of TWELVE Trustees Eight of the aforesaid whole number of the body of

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Trustees shall be resident and respectable Freeholders of our said Province

of New Hampshire & seven of said whole number shall be Laymen [§ 28] And

we do further of our special grace certain knowledge and mere motion will

give and grant unto the said Trustees of Dartmouth College that they and

their Successors or the major part of any seven of them which shall convene

for that purpose as is above directed may make & they are hereby fully

impowered from time to time fully & lawfully to make and establish such

Ordinances Orders & Laws as may tend to the good & wholesome govern-

ment of the said College & all the Students & the several Officers & Ministers

thereof & to the publick benefit of the same not repugnant to the Laws

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& Statutes of our Realm of GREAT BRITAIN or of this our Province of NEW

HAMPSHIRE and not excluding any Person of any religious denomination

whatsoever from free & equal liberty & advantage of Education or from

any of the liberties and privileges or immunities of the said College on

account of his or their speculative sentiments in Religion, & of his or their

being of a religious profession different from the said Trustees of the said

Dartmouth College And such Ordinances orders & laws which shall as

aforesaid be made We do by these presents for us our heirs & Successors

ratify allow of, & confirm as good & effectual to oblige & bind all the Students

& the several Officers & Ministers of the said College and we do hereby

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authorize & impower the said Trustees of Dartmouth College & the Presi-

dent Tutors & Professors by them elected & appointed as aforesaid to put

such ordinances laws and orders in execution to all proper intents and pur-

poses [§ 29] And we do further of our special grace certain knowledge & mere

motion Will give & grant unto the said Trustees of said Dartmouth College

for the encouragement of Learning and animating the Students of said College

to diligence & industry & a laudable progress in Literature that they & their

Successors or the major part of any seven or more of them convened for that

purpose as above directed do by the President of said College for the time

being or any other deputed by them give & grant any such degree or degrees

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to any of the Students of the said College or any others by them thought

worthy thereof as are usually granted in either of the Universities or any other

College in our Realm of Great Britain & that they sign & seal Diplomas

or certificates of such Graduations to be kept by the graduates as perpetual

memorials & testimonials thereof. [§ 30] AND we do further of our special grace

certain knowledge & mere motion for us our heirs & Successors by these

Presents give & grant unto the Trustees of said Dartmouth College & to their

Successors that they & their Successors shall have a common SEAL under

which they may pass all diplomas or Certificates of degrees & all other

affairs & business of & concerning the said College which shall be engraven

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in such a form and with such an inscription as shall be devised by the said

Trustees for the time being or by the major part of any seven or more of

them convened for the service of the said College as is above directed [§ 31] And

we do further for us our heirs & Successors give and grant unto the said

Trustees of the said Dartmouth College & their Successors or to the major

part of any seven or more of them convened for the service of the said College

full power & authority from time to time to nominate & appoint all other

Officers & Ministers which they shall think convenient & necessary for the

service of the said College not herein particularly named or mention'd which

Officers & Ministers we do hereby impower to execute their Offices & Trusts

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as fully & freely as any of the Officers & Ministers in our Universities or

Colleges in our REALM of GREAT BRITAIN lawfully may or ought to do.

[§ 32] AND further that the generous Contributors to the support of this design

of spreading the knowledge of the only true God and Saviour among the

American Savages may from time to time be satisfied that their liberalities

are faithfully disposed of in the best manner for that purpose & that others

may in future time be encouraged in the exercise of the like liberality for

promoting the same pious design it shall be the duty of the President of the

said Dartmouth College & of his Successors annually or as often as he shall

be thereunto desired or required to transmit to the Right honorable, hon-

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orable & worthy Gentlemen of the Trust in England before mentioned a

faithful account of the improvement & disbursements of the several Sums he

shall receive from the Donations & bequests made in England through

the hands of said Trustees & also advise them of the general plans laid and

prospects exhibited as well as a faithful account of all remarkable occur-

rences in order if they shall think expedient that they may be published And

this to continue so long as they shall perpetuate their board of Trustees & there

shall be any of the Indian Natives remaining to be proper Objects of that

Charity [§ 33] AND lastly our express Will & pleasure is and we do by these presents

for us our heirs and Successors give & grant unto the said Trustees of Dart-

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mouth College & to their Successors forever that these our Letters Patent

or the enrollment thereof in the SECRETARY'S Office of our province of New

Hampshire aforesaid shall be good & effectual in the Law to all intents &

purposes against us our heirs and Successors without any other License

Grant or Confirmation from us our heirs & successors hereafter by the said

Trustees to be had & obtained notwithstanding the not writing or misrecital

not naming or misnaming the aforesaid Offices Franchises Priviledges

Immunities or other the Premises or any of them and notwithstanding a

writ of Ad quod Damnum hath not issued forth to enquire of the Premises

or any other matter or thing to the contrary notwithstanding

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[§ 34] TO HAVE AND TO HOLD ALL & singular the Privileges Advantages Liberties

Immunities and all other the Premises herein & hereby granted & given or

which are meant mentioned or intended to be herein & hereby given and

granted unto them the said TRUSTEES of DARTMOUTH COLLEGE and to their

Successors forever. [§ 35] IN TESTIMONY whereof We have caused these our

Letters to be made Patent and the publick Seal of our said Province of NEW

HAMPSHIRE to be hereunto affixed WITNESS our Trusty and well beloved

JOHN WENTWORTH Esquire Governor and Commander in Chief in and

over our said Province &c^a. this THIRTEENTH day of December in the Tenth

year of our Reign and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred

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and Sixty nine.

By his Excellency's Command	}
with advice of Council

THEODORE ATKINSON, Sec'y

Province of New Hampshire Decemb^r 13^th 1769

Recorded in the book of Charters

Lib: 4 Fol. 22 to 23 both inclusive.

Per

THEODORE ATKINSON, SEC'Y sc

JOHN WENTWORTH.

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