From Princeton to Harvard: Where did America's Founding Fathers study?

It’s almost July 4. Time for bald eagles, beer cans disguised as patriotism, and Instagram stories quoting Jefferson – usually by people who think Federalist Papers are a music album. But have you ever wondered where America’s Founding Fathers actually studied before they signed the Declaration of Independence with a flourish that would put any influencer’s autograph to shame?

Harvard: The OG Factory of Rebels

Let’s start with Harvard. John Adams – the lawyer with a rage against monarchy – graduated from Harvard in 1755. His cousin, Samuel Adams, also walked Harvard’s halls, though his academic brilliance is overshadowed by his brilliance in getting people drunk on revolution (and beer). In short, Harvard didn’t just create hedge fund managers and AI bros. It created men who swapped Latin declensions for defiance against the Crown.

Princeton: Where Madison Mastered Persuasion

James Madison, that pocket-sized constitutional genius, studied at what is now Princeton University (then called the College of New Jersey). He crammed so much in four years that he finished in two. Madison was the guy who would be accused of “try hard vibes” today, but back then it earned him the title “Father of the Constitution.” Princeton thus proved you don’t need to be tall to build a tall order of government.

College of William & Mary: Jefferson’s Intellectual Playground

Thomas Jefferson attended the College of William & Mary in Virginia, where he studied under Professor William Small, a Scottish moral philosopher. There, he refined his radical belief that all men are created equal – a phrase he wrote while owning hundreds of men. The irony is enough to make even a British monarch cough up their Earl Grey.

King’s College (Columbia): Hamilton’s Brief But Bright Stint

Alexander Hamilton attended King’s College, now Columbia University. He enrolled in 1774 but his studies were interrupted when he decided overthrowing an empire was more urgent than passing finals. King’s College thus gave America its feistiest Treasury Secretary – an immigrant rapper in his own time, spitting bars against taxes and tyranny alike.

No College, No Problem

Then there was George Washington. No college. Just vibes. The man who became the first President of the United States never received formal university education. Instead, he learned surveying and warcraft on the frontlines. A reminder this July 4 that if you ever feel insecure about your degree, remember the most powerful man of 1776 learned on the job.

The Lesson for July 4

So as fireworks illuminate your skyline and you down Bud Light in memory of a revolution sparked by tea, remember this: America’s Founding Fathers weren’t just rebels with a cause. They were nerds with diplomas (or in Washington’s case, a machete and a prayer). They read Cicero by candlelight, debated Locke over ale, and plotted sedition between philosophy lectures.

Today’s students worry about job offers. They worried about the guillotine.

Happy Independence Day to the nation that was born in a classroom and baptised in rebellion.