King's College London was founded in 1828-9 by a group of eminent politicians, churchmen and others. They wanted a Church of England alternative to what later became University College London (UCL, founded in 1826), known as 'the godless college in Gower Street'. King's was granted a royal charter by King George IV on 14 August 1829.
King's professors played a major part in nineteenth-century science and in extending higher education to women and working men through evening classes.The university has grown and developed through mergers with several institutions each with their own distinguished histories.
