University of Notre Dame established by Edward Sorin

Background. The University of Notre Dame is a private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana. It was founded in 1842 by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross, a religious order of priests and brothers. The land for the campus was originally purchased in 1830 by Stephen Badin, the first priest ordained in the United States, following an invitation from Potawatomi chief Leopold Pokagon.

Establishment. In 1842, Bishop Célestin Guynemer de la Hailandière offered the land to Edward Sorin on the condition that he build a college in two years. Sorin arrived on the site on November 26, 1842, with eight Holy Cross brothers from France and Ireland. He began the school using Badin's old log chapel, marking the start of the institution that would become the University of Notre Dame.

Charter. Notre Dame began as a primary and secondary school. In 1844, it received its official college charter from the Indiana General Assembly under the name University of Notre Dame du Lac. The first building, completed in 1844, constituted the entire college until the construction of the second Main Building in 1865.