Elihu Yale

Elihu Yale was a British-American colonial administrator and philanthropist. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Yale only lived in America as a child, spending the rest of his life in England, Wales, and India. He became a clerk for the East India Company at Fort St. George, and eventually rose to the Presidency of the settlement. He was later removed from the post under charges of corruption for self-dealing and required to pay a fine. In 1699 he returned to Britain with a considerable fortune, around £200,000, mostly made by selling diamonds, and spent his time and wealth in philanthropy and art collecting. He is best remembered as the primary benefactor of Yale College, which was named in his honor, following a donation of books, portrait, and textiles under the request of Rev. Cotton Mather, a Harvard graduate. He had no male heir, and no descendants of his have survived past his grandchildren.

5 April 1649

Born on the same birth day (5 April): Albert Charles Smith • Anna Caterina Antonacci • Anzor Boltukaev • Arie Selinger • Fabio Vitaioli • Freddie Fox (actor) • Jonathan Rossini • Juan Gisbert Sr. • Nancy Holt • Nelson Parraguez • Princess Elizabeth of Sweden • Ryoichi Kawakatsu • Scottie Wilbekin • Serhiy Klymentiev • Thure de Thulstrup

Born in the same month (April 1649): James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth