In 1743, the University of Delaware traces its roots to the Free School founded in New London, Pennsylvania by Presbyterian minister Francis Alison. After several name and location changes, the school became the Academy of Newark in 1769. In 1834, the Academy merged with the newly chartered Newark College and became Delaware College.

Today this land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant institution has strong programs in engineering, science, and agriculture, with special emphasis on chemical engineering, chemistry, and biochemistry.