Scotland-born James McGill was one of the wealthiest men in Montreal when he died in 1813. In his will, he bequeathed his 47 acre estate and substantial money to establish McGill College. Eight years later, a royal charter from King George IV converted the school into McGill University. The university now educates over 40,000 students a year. McGill’s main downtown campus spreads across 80 acres. This is Morrice Hall. Built in 1882, it is home to McGill’s Institute of Islamic Studies.
