National University of San Marcos

National University of San Marcos (Spanish: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM), or simply San Marcos) is a public university in Lima, Peru. It was founded in 1551, and such is the oldest university in the continental mainland of the Americas. While its historical campus is situated in downtown Lima, most academic activities take place at the modern Ciudad Universitaria.

History

San Marcos was established on May 12, 1551 by an order of Dominican friars headed by Fray Thomas de San Martin. It was subsequently officially recognized by royal decree of Charles I of Spain and the papal bull of Pius V in 1571. Classes commenced on January 2, 1553, in the Convento del Rosario; the faculty consisted of Andrés Cianca and Corona Cosme Carrillo, and was led by Fray Juan Bautista de La Roca.

Related Topics:
May 12 - 1551 - Dominican - Fray Thomas de San Martin - Royal decree - Charles I of Spain - Papal bull - Pius V - 1571 - January 2 - 1553

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UNMSM was originally located in the Convent of Rosario of the Dominicans. Later, it was moved to a location adjacent to the Augustinians convent San Marcelo. In 1575, it was moved again to the Plaza del Estanque later called Plaza de la Inquisición, where the Congress of Peru is currently located. The city's rapid growth as consequence of the 19th century industrial revolution and of president Manuel Pardo's efforts to develop and improve Lima's urban planning during the 1870s moved San Marcos' campus to a new location contiguous to an old Jesuit monastery called Convictorio de San Carlos; this campus is now referred to as the Parque Universitario. Finally in the 1960s, it was moved to its present location, the modern campus Ciudad Universitaria.

Related Topics:
Dominicans - Augustinians - 1575 - Inquisición - Congress of Peru - 19th century - Industrial revolution - Manuel Pardo - Lima - Urban planning - 1870s - Campus - Jesuit - Monastery - 1960s

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The Faculty of Medicine, also known as San Fernando (named after Ferdinand VII of Spain), was established during the viceroy's Francisco de Toledo's administration in 1573. Originally it too was located at the Plaza del Estanque until the 1860s when it moved to Avendida Grau, still in downtown Lima.

Related Topics:
Medicine - Ferdinand VII of Spain - Viceroy - Francisco de Toledo - 1573 - 1860s - Downtown Lima

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Oldest university

There is apparently controversy regarding the claim that San Marcos is the oldest university in the Americas, alghough it is almost certainly the oldest on the continental mainland. San Marcos is known as Decana de América ("decana" translating as "dean" in the sense of "oldest member"). There are other universities that claim such title including Autonomous University of Santo Domingo which regards itself as Primada de América. But documents and thesis based on historical records support San Marcos as being the oldest and formally the first university founded in New World. San Marcos Decana de América.

Related Topics:
Autonomous University of Santo Domingo - New World

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