<P> A school of higher education for both Native American young men and the sons of the colonists was one of the earliest goals of the leaders of the Colony of Virginia . The College was founded on February 8 , 1693 , under a royal charter ( legally , letters patent ) to `` make , found and establish a certain Place of Universal Study , a perpetual College of Divinity , Philosophy , Languages , and other good arts and sciences ... to be supported and maintained , in all time coming . '' Named in honor of the reigning monarchs King William III and Queen Mary II , the College is the second oldest college in the United States . The original plans for the College date back to 1618 but were thwarted by the Indian Massacre of 1622 , a change in government ( in 1624 , the Virginia Company 's charter was revoked by King James I and the Virginia Colony was transferred to royal authority as a crown colony ) , events related to the English Civil War , and Bacon 's Rebellion . In 1695 before the town of Williamsburg existed , construction began on the College Building , now known as the Sir Christopher Wren Building , in what was then called Middle Plantation ( Virginia ) . It is the oldest college building in America . The College is one of the country 's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution . The Charter named James Blair as the College 's first president ( a lifetime appointment which he held until his death in 1743 ) . William & Mary was founded as an Anglican institution ; students were required to be members of the Church of England , and professors were required to declare adherence to the Thirty - Nine Articles . </P>
who was william and mary college named for
the reigning monarchs King William III and Queen Mary II