University of Ottawa founded as the College of Bytown

Background. Bytown, the former name of Ottawa, was a growing settlement driven by the timber trade. The city's incorporation history was complex, with an initial act in 1847 disallowed by the Queen, leading to formal incorporation in 1850. The College of Bytown emerged in this context, founded by the first Roman Catholic bishop of Ottawa, Joseph-Bruno Guigues. The college's origins date to 1846, establishing a religious educational presence in the region.

Establishment. The college was formally established on September 26, 1848, as the College of Bytown. It was placed under the direction of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The physical site was secured through a donation from Louis-Théodore Besserer, who offered a substantial parcel from his estate in the Sandy Hill neighbourhood. This location later became the main campus of the University of Ottawa.

Evolution. Following the city's name change from Bytown to Ottawa, the college was renamed the College of Ottawa in 1861. In 1866, it received university status through an act of the Parliament of the Province of Canada. This made it the final institution in Canada to receive a national charter before education became a provincial responsibility in 1867. The library dates back to the foundation in 1848.