Presidency College, Chennai

About Presidency College, Chennai

It had taken, decades for the College to take shape. At the behest of Sir Thomas Munro a Committee of public instruction was formed in 1826. In 1836 the duties of the Committee of public instruction was taken over by "The Committee of Native Education." The plan drawn up by the Committee did not commend themselves to Lord Elphinstone who in turn proposed nineteen resolutions which were passed unanimously. The gist of the resolutions was as follows:

"That it is expedient that a Central Collegiate Institution or University should be established at Madras".

"The Madras University to consist of two principal departments, a College for the Higher Branches of Literature, Philosophy and Science, and a High School for the Cultivation of English Literature and of the vernacular languages of India and the elementary departments of Philosophy and Science".

These proposals of Lord Elphinstone which were afterwards known as the "Fundamental Rules" were approved by the Members of Council and received the sanction of the Government in January 1840.

In a month's time the governing body of the University was formed and it held its first meeting on 8th February 1840. The governing body requested Thiru. Mount Stuart Elphinstone to select a suitable person for the post of Headmaster.

The choice of Thiru. Mount Stuart Elphinstone fell on Mr. Eyre Burton Powell, a Cambridge Wrangler in Mathematics, who accepted the post. Mr. Powell reached Mumbai on the 20th Sept. 1840 and could reach Chennai only on 24th November 1840, the journey from Mumbai to Chennai occupying about four weeks. In the meantime, the University Board had invited Mr. Cooper, from the Hoogly College, Calcutta to carry on the duties of the Headmaster temporarily, on a salary of Rs. 400/­a month.