Editing University of Rochester (section)

=== Early history ===
The University of Rochester traces its origins to The First Baptist Church of [[Hamilton, New York|Hamilton (New York)]], which was founded in 1796. The church established the Baptist Education Society of the State of New York, later renamed the [[Hamilton Literary and Theological Institution]], in 1817.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstbaptistchurchhamilton.org/history.html|title=History|website=First Baptist Church|language=en|access-date=December 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206005848/http://www.firstbaptistchurchhamilton.org/history.html|archive-date=December 6, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> This institution gave birth to both Madison University and the University of Rochester. Its function was to train clergy in the Baptist tradition. When it aspired to grant higher degrees, it created a collegiate division separate from the [[Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School|theological division]].<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://rbscp.lib.rochester.edu/2308|title=University of Rochester History: Chapter 2, Hamilton vs. Rochester: RBSCP|website=rbscp.lib.rochester.edu|language=en|access-date=December 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171129081808/https://rbscp.lib.rochester.edu/2308|archive-date=November 29, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Colgate origins">{{cite web |title=Origins of Colgate University |url=http://www.colgate.edu/about/colgates-origins |publisher=Colgate University |access-date=October 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201004020/https://www.colgate.edu/about/colgates-origins |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The collegiate division was granted a charter by the State of New York in 1846, after which its name was changed to [[Colgate University#History|Madison University]].<ref name="Colgate origins" /> John Wilder and the Baptist Education Society urged that the new university be moved to [[Rochester, New York]]. However, legal action prevented the move. In response, dissenting faculty, students, and trustees defected and departed for Rochester, where they sought a new charter for a new university. Madison University was eventually renamed [[Colgate University]].<ref name="Colgate origins" />