Gill College is a South African high school in Somerset East, Sarah Baartman District Municipality. It was founded in 1869 as a university.

Gill College
Address
Map
College Rd

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Coordinates32°43′15.4″S 25°35′18.5″E / 32.720944°S 25.588472°E / -32.720944; 25.588472
Information
MottoSursum Prorsusque
Established1869; 155 years ago (1869)
Grades8–12
GenderCo-educational
AccreditationEastern Cape Education Department

The school's namesake, Dr. William Gill, died in 1863 and left an estate equivalent to £23,000 (equivalent to £2,779,739 in 2023) for the establishment of a college of higher education. Dr Gill nominated seven men to form Gill College Corporation. Included in the seven was James Leonard who was a prominent lawyer, another Dr Langham Dale. The corporation set about building the college.[1] Gill College was officially opened on March 18, 1869.[2] The architecture was based on that of the University of Glasgow.

In 1903, a change in educational regulations caused Gill College to become a high school. The high school was coeducational before 1928 and again after 1965; between those dates it was a boys' school.

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ "Charles Leonard , South Africa's First Revolutionary Leader" by Simon Winter.
  2. ^ "Dr William Gill of Somerset East". Blue Crane Route Tourism. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
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