Archive · 1 Aug 2025
Connections Between Elihu Yale and Chennai's History
Imagine a person named Elihu Yale who lived a long time ago.
He worked for a company in India called the East India Company and became its leader in a place called Madras.
He made a lot of money, but some of it came from doing bad things.
Later, he gave books and money to a school in America.
That school became Yale University, one of the most famous schools in the world.
Now, the school is looking into how Yale got his money and what it means for the school today, especially in relation to slavery.
Elihu Yale, the benefactor of Yale University, spent nearly 30 years in Madras.
Yale served as governor of Fort St George, a key East India Company outpost.
He was removed from his position for corruption but amassed a large fortune.
Yale donated to the Collegiate School, which later became Yale University.
Yale's connection to slavery is being investigated by the university.
- Who
- Elihu Yale, former governor of Fort St George and benefactor of Yale University.
- What
- Elihu Yale, the benefactor of Yale University, spent time in Madras and had a history of corruption and involvement in the slave trade.
- When
- Yale lived in Madras for nearly 30 years and donated to the school in 1713 and 1718.
- Where
- Chennai (Madras) and Yale University.
- Why
- Yale University is investigating its historical ties to slavery due to Elihu Yale's past.
- Person of Interest
- Elihu Yale
- Location of Residence
- Madras (Chennai)
- Position Held
- Governor of Fort St George
- Cause of Removal
- Corruption and Misappropriation of Funds
- University Name
- Yale University
- Yale University Established
- 1745
- School Before Yale
- Collegiate School