In his will, Thomas Green Clemson left the Fort Hill plantation and a large part of his personal estate to establish what would become Clemson University.

In November 1889, Gov. John Peter Richardson signed the bill accepting Thomas Clemson’s gift, which established the Clemson Agricultural College, with its trustees becoming custodians of Morrill Act and Hatch Act funds made available for agricultural education and research purposes by federal legislative acts.

Initially an all-male military school, Clemson Agricultural College opened in July 1893 with 446 students. Clemson became a coeducational institution in 1955 when the college moved to “civilian” status for students. Expanded academic offerings and research pursuits led the way for the college to be renamed Clemson University in 1964.