Abraham Lincoln played a significant role in the creation of the
premiere public university in his home state by signing the Morrill
Act, the legislation that created the land grant university
system. At the time of Lincoln's presidency, the United
States was rich in land, and Congressman Justin Morrill's legislation
gave states millions of acres that could be used or sold to fund
state universities. In 1867, Illinois sold 380,000 of its 480,000
land grant acres at 66 cents an acre, raising a little more that
$250,000 to fund Illinois Industrial University, which would become
the University of Illinois.
The first regent (president) of the University was John Milton Gregory.
Until Gregory's arrival, many proponents of the new university wanted
it to stick to providing a mechanical and industrial education to
the state's citizens, who were mostly farmers. Gregory made clear
that the university would provide a "liberal and practical
education to the industrial classes." In his inaugural
address, Gregory stated that the university must offer "a full table
spread with every form of human knowledge, and bid (students) freely
to the feast." It was largely because of Gregory that the university's
curricula was broadened to offer a range of scholarly pursuits for
the first class of 77 students, and for generations of Illini.
Illinois is proud of its land grant heritage and continues to strive
toward continued realization of the mission mandated with Lincoln's
signature: excellence in education, research, and public
engagement.
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