Dickinson College is a private, residential
liberal arts college in
Carlisle, Pennsylvania,
United States. Founded in 1773 as Carlisle Grammar School, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, six days after the signing of the
Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded after the formation of the
United States. Dickinson was founded by
Benjamin Rush, a signer of the
United States Declaration of Independence. It was originally named "John and Mary's College" in honor of
John Dickinson, a signer of the
Constitution who was later the
President of Pennsylvania, and his wife
Mary Norris Dickinson. They donated much of their extensive personal libraries to the new college. Dickinson College is the 16th-
oldest college in the United States.