Princeton University's Graduate School dates to 1869, though James Madison began graduate work here in 1771 under John Witherspoon. This institution now offers postgraduate degrees in 42 disciplines, but its story reaches back further. In 1771 a young James Madison began graduate work here under President John Witherspoon, often considered Princeton’s “first graduate student.
Madison studied Hebrew and Political Philosophy—studies the source says laid the foundation for his later career as a delegate to the Congress of the Confederation from Virginia, as Secretary of State, and as President of the United States. After the early years students could remain at the university after earning their bachelor’s degrees. By 1869 graduate education here was standardized with general examinations and graduate fellowships.
Princeton conferred its first graduate degrees to James F. Williamson and William Libby in 1879. The first dean, Andrew Fleming West, imagined a school producing high-quality graduate work from a small number of students; by the 1880s eight graduate students were enrolled. This layered history still frames what you see now — notice the buildings and quads nearby.