University College London founded as University of London

Background. Established in 1826 as London University, the institution was intended to be England's third university. It was the first university institution in London and the first in England to be entirely secular, admitting students regardless of religion. This secular nature contrasted with the Anglican universities of Oxford and Cambridge, which limited degrees to members of the Church of England.

Founding and Status. The founders were inspired by the radical ideas of Jeremy Bentham, though his direct involvement was limited to purchasing shares. The institution lacked university status or degree-awarding powers initially. In 1836, politics forced it to accept college status, receiving a royal charter as University College, London, and becoming one of the two founding colleges of the University of London.

Early Developments. Classes in medicine began at the opening of the college in 1828. The Grant Museum of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy was established in 1827 by Robert Edmund Grant, the first professor of comparative anatomy and zoology. In 1828, the chair of political economy was created, with John Ramsay McCulloch as the first incumbent.