With the establishment of the Supreme Court of Calcutta in 1773 many
Hindus of
Bengal showed eagerness to learn the English language.
David Hare, in collaboration with
Raja Radhakanta Deb had already taken steps to introduce English education in Bengal. Babu
Baidyanath Mukhopadhya advanced the introduction of English as a medium of instruction further by enlisting the support of Sir
Edward Hyde East,
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Fort William who called a meeting of 'European and Hindu Gentlemen' in his house in May 1816. The purpose of the meeting was to "discuss the proposal to establish an institution for giving a liberal education to the children of the members of the Hindu Community". The proposal was received with unanimous approbation and a donation of over Rs. 100,000 was promised for the setting up of the new college.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy showed full sympathy for the scheme but chose not to come out in support of the proposal publicly for fear of "alarming the prejudices of his orthodox countrymen and thus marring the whole idea". The college was formally opened on Monday, 20 January 1817 with 20 'scholars'. The foundation committee of the college, which oversaw its establishment, was headed by
Raja Rammohan Roy. The control of the institution was vested in a body of two Governors and four Directors. The first Governors of the college were
Maharaja Tejchandra Bahadur of
Burdwan and Gopee Mohan Thakoor. The first Directors were
Gopi Mohun Deb of Sobhabazar, Joykissen Sinha, Radha Madhab Banerjee and Gunganarain Doss. Buddinath Mukherjee was appointed as the first Secretary of the college. The newly established college admitted Hindu students only from affluent and upper caste families. At first the classes were held in a house belonging to Gorachand Bysack of Garanhatta (later renamed 304, Chitpore Road), which was rented by the college. In January 1818 the college moved to 'Feringhi Kamal Bose's house' which was located nearby in Chitpore. From Chitpore, the college moved to
Bowbazar and later to the building that now houses the
Sanskrit College on
College Street. In 1855 the 'Pathshala' part was renamed as Hindu School and the 'Mahapathshala' part became
Presidency College, Kolkata. == Medium of education ==