Monday, March 3, 2025

Question: When was the University of Tennessee at Knoxville founded?

Answer: Founded in Knoxville in 1794 as Blount College, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville began as a small higher education establishment. Under the leadership of its first president, Rev. Samuel Carrick, the college developed its initial academic programs from seminary courses he had previously taught at home. Named after Tennessee’s first governor, William Blount, the college welcomed students of all denominations and operated from a Knoxville building provided by the city’s founder, James White. In its early years, tuition was set at just $8 per session.