April 29, 1792

Matthew Vassar, founder of the college, was born in East Dereham, parish of Tuddingham, Norfolk County, England, the son of Ann Bennett and James Vassar, farmers and dissenters.

“…it has alway been a mooted question on what day I was born, the family record reporting it at mid-night, Father insisting it was before 12 O’ck at night, and Mother after 12 O’ck on the 28th April 1792.”

Elizabeth Hazelton Haight, ed., The Autobiography and Letters of Matthew Vassar