Sapporo Agricultural College

Sapporo Agricultural College (札幌農学校, Sapporo nōgakkō^?) was a school in Sapporo established in the purpose of education of student who would pioneer Hokkaidō by Kaitakushi, the local government of Hokkaidō in those days. Once settled as an autonomous school, became part of Tohoku Imperial University in 1907, and was transferred to Hokkaido Imperial University (current Hokkaido University) in 1918.

History

Statue of William Smith Clark in Sapporo

Sapporo Agricultural College was founded as the Sapporo School in September 1875. Its origin was Kaitakushi Tentative School (開拓使仮學校, Kaitakushi karigakko^?) founded in Tokyo in 1872.

It was renamed Sapporo Agricultural College one year later. The first president of the college was Zusho Hirotake. As the vice president of the college William Smith Clark, Ph.D., a graduate of Amherst College and a former president of the Massachusetts Agricultural College was appointed. Clark taught in Sapporo only eight months but gave a deep impact to students. He was followed by William Penn Brooks, also from Amherst. As the second vice president another American, Whiler was invited. Cecil Peabody was a professor of mathematics (circa 1878 to 1882).

In September 1907, it became an agricultural college under Tohoku Imperial University in Sendai.

In April 1918, the Hokkaido Imperial University was established, and Sapporo Agricultural College was transferred to it.

Hokkaido Imperial University was renamed Hokkaido University in December 1947, a name it retains to this day. Sapporo Agricultural College remains part of the University.