am, the project of founding a
university of London, which should be free from denominational
restrictions, was advocated. The scheme was warmly embraced by many
whose names are found associated with other movements of the times.
Among them were Hume, Grote, Zachary Macaulay, Dudley, and Russell. A
large proportion of the promoters of the new university had been
educated at Scottish universities, and had therefore a clear idea of the
type of university which they might establish, and the movement,
although started primarily in the interests of dissenters, received the
support of many who still valued the connexion of the universities with
the Church. The "London University," as it was called, was opened in
1828, when classes were formed in arts, law, and medicine, but not in
divinity. It was technically a joint-stock company, and the attempt of
the shareholders to obtain a charter of incorporation was successfully
resisted by the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

Meanwhile some of the original supporters of the movement, regarding the
non-religious character of the new university with suspicion, had
decided to transfer their support to a new college, where the doctrine
and worship of the Church of England should be recognised. The Duke of
Wellington took a lively interest in this movement, and King George
IV.'s patronage gave the new institution the name of "King's College".
There seemed every reason to expect that the foundation would be on a
munificent scale, when Wellington's acceptance of catholic emancipation
offended many of the subscribers so deeply that they immediately
withdrew from the undertaking, and the college was in consequence left
almost entirely without endowment. State recognition, however, was given
it from the first. It was incorporated in 1829, and opened in 1831. In
1835 the demand of "London University" for a charter received the
support of the house of commons, and Lord Melbourne's government decided
to propose a compromise, by which the so-called "London University" was
to be converted into University College, and an examining body was to be
created under the title of the University of London, while the work of
teaching was to be performed by University College, King's College, and
other colleges, which might from time to time be named by the crown.
These terms were accepted by the existing "university," and charters
were given to the new university and to University College, London, in
183