Benjamin Franklin sent home from Europe America’s first soybeans
In 1770, Benjamin Franklin, the colony of Pennsylvania’s ambassador, sends home from Europe seeds he calls Chinese caravances…
The University of California was founded
On Mar. 23, 1868, the University of California (UC) was founded, and in 1869 the University opened its…
Paris or Emerald Green (copper(II) acetoarsenite), first chemical insecticide, used against the Colorado potato beetle
In 1867, Paris or Emerald Green (copper(II) acetoarsenite), the first chemical insecticide, used against the Colorado potato beetle,…
The New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanical Arts (University of New Hampshire) was founded
In 1866, The New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanical Arts (University of New Hampshire) was founded.
Augustinian friar Gregor Mendel, the father of modern genetics, presented his laws of heredity to the Natural Science Society
In 1865, Augustinian friar Gregor Mendel, the father of modern genetics, presented his laws of heredity to the…
Kansas State Agricultural College (Kansas State University) was established
On Feb. 16, 1863, Kansas State University, or K-State, was was founded in Manhattan, during the American Civil…
Iowa became the first State in the Nation to accept the terms of the Morrill Act creating the land-grant system of colleges
On Sept. 12, 1862, Iowa became the first State in the Nation to accept the terms and conditions…
The Morrill Act which created the U.S. and-grant system of colleges was enacted
On Jul. 2, 1862, the U.S. Land-Grant College Act of the U.S. Congress was enacted which provided grants…
The Organic Act established the U.S. Department of Agriculture
On May 15, 1862, the Organic Act established the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and directed its commissioner to…
Tariff Act approved which exempted foreign plants and trees from U.S. import duties
On Apr. 27, 1862, the Tariff Act, also known as the Dallas Tariff, exempted foreign plants and trees…
The University of South Dakota was founded
In 1862, the University of South Dakota was founded by the Dakota Territorial Legislature in Vermillion, making it…
The U.S. Patent and Trade Office annual seed distribution exceeded 24 million packages of seeds
In 1861, the U.S. Patent and Trade Office (USPTO) annual seed distribution exceeded 2.4 million packages of seed…
Manly Miles became a professor at Michigan Agricultural College, the first professor of scientific agriculture in the U.S.
In 1860, Manly Miles became a professor at Michigan Agricultural College, now know as Michigan State University, and…
The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences was established
In 1859, the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences was established, and in 1872 the…
Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm (Iowa State University) was established
On Mar. 22, 1858, the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm, now Iowa State University, was officially established…
Corvallis academy (Oregon State University) was established
On Jan. 20, 1858, Corvallis academy (Oregon State University) was founded and maintained by the Methodist Episcopal Church,…
The Agricultural College of the State of Michigan was established
On Feb. 12, 1855, Gov. Kinsley S. Bingham signed into law an act for the establishment of the…
The East Florida Seminary (University of Florida) was founded
On Jan. 6, 1853, Florida Governor Thomas Brown signed a bill that provided public support to higher education,…
The West Florida Seminary (Florida State University) was founded
On Jan. 24, 1851, the West Florida Seminary (Florida State University) was founded by the Florida General Assembly…
Texas A&M (Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas) was founded
In 1850, Texas A&M (Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas) was founded.
The first class of the University of Wisconsin-Madison was held
On Feb. 5, 1849, the first class of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with 17 students, met in a…
Nelson Dewey, Wisconsin’s first governor, signed the act that formally created the University of Wisconsin-Madison
On Jul. 26, 1848, Nelson Dewey, Wisconsin’s first governor, signed the act that formally created the University of…
Late blight ravaged Ireland’s potato crop
In late 1845 and 1846, a summer blight ravaged Ireland’s potato crop. It is estimated that more than…
U.S. Congress puts $1,000 into the Congressional Seed Distribution Program
In 1839, the U.S. Congress puts $1,000 into the Congressional Seed Distribution Program, administered by the U.S. Patent…
The University of Missouri was founded
In 1839, the University of Missouri was founded after the Missouri legislature passed the Geyer Act, legislation that…
Botanist Robert Brown discovered a small dark body in plant cells He calls it the nucleus or little nut
In 1830, Scottish botanist Robert Brown discovers a small dark body in plant cells. He called it the…
President John Quincy Adams instructed consular officers abroad to ship back to the U.S. any plant as may give promise
In 1827, President John Quincy Adams instructed overseas consular officers abroad to ship back to the U.S. any…
Tuscaloosa was chosen as home of the University of the State of Alabama (University of Alabama)
In 1827, Tuscaloosa, then the state’s capital, was chosen as home of the University of the State of…
The University of Virginia was founded
On Jan. 25, 1819, the University of Virginia was founded after being conceived by Thomas Jefferson in 1800…
The drug caffine was isolated
In 1819, caffeine was isolated by Germand chemist Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge at the behest of Johann Wolfgang von…