The University of Georgia was founded on January 27, 1785, making it the first public university in the United States. The event occurred when the Georgia General Assembly passed a charter establishing UGA in Athens, Georgia. The institution was initially named the "Franklin College of Arts and Sciences" in honor of Benjamin Franklin, who donated books to start the school's library. The primary aim of the university was to provide higher education opportunities for the growing population in Georgia and to promote civic and economic development. The University of Georgia has since grown into a prominent center for higher education and research, offering a wide range of academic disciplines and contributing significantly to the state's intellectual and cultural development.
