Who founded purdue university and when?
John Purdue, an businessman and industrialist in Lafayette, Indiana, founded Purdue University. The university was officially started on May 6, 1869 when West Lafayette was chosen as the location for the new school and named Purdue University. When the doors of Purdue were first opened, John Purdue was the primary original benefactor the school having given $50,000 to the project.John Purdue was the founder and initial benefactor of Purdue University.