109 years ago today, January 31, 1916 (December 27, 1915, the lunar calendar), Yanjing University was established, with American missionary John Stuart serving as president. On January 31, 1916, Yanjing University was established, with American missionary John Stuart serving as president. Yanjing University is the most famous religious university in modern China. It was founded in 1916. It was originally formed by the merger of several religious universities in North China, including Beijing Huiwen University, Tongzhou North China Union University, and Beijing North China Women's Union University. It was jointly organized by the American Presbyterian Church, the American-Israeli Church, the American Women's Union, the Congregational Church, and the British London Conference. It was initially named "Peking University." Because different churches were jointly organized and different schools merged, the management was very chaotic at first and there was never a satisfied principal. It was not until 1919, when Leighton Stewart became the principal that changes began to take place. Leighton Stewart was one of the famous missionaries in China and later became the U.S. ambassador to China. After taking office, he immediately reformed the school and renamed the school Yanjing University. Subsequently, the construction of a new campus began and raised funds from all walks of life. In 1921, President Leighton Stuart received donations from the famous American publisher Henry Luce and Charles Martin Hall, founder of Alcoa. He purchased several gardens given by the former Qing Prince in the western suburbs of Beijing, hired architectural designer Murphy to carry out a master plan, and built the largest campus in modern China, the highest quality and the most beautiful environment. In 1926, it was officially relocated. After several years of hard work, the university became the most beautiful and accomplished university in China at that time. In terms of teaching ideas, the school does not emphasize Christian education and implements free teaching. Since 1929, the School of Arts, Science, and Law have been officially established, with a total of nearly 20 departments. Its graduates are mainly active in China's educational, political and religious circles. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the government adjusted the departments of colleges and universities in 1952. The liberal arts and sciences of Tsinghua University and Yanjing University were merged into Peking University. The four departments of Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Soil and Construction of Peking University were merged into Tsinghua University. The Department of Chemical Engineering was merged into Tianjin University. The College of Agriculture, Medical College, Political Science and Law majors were separated from Peking University or formed into new colleges and universities or merged into other related colleges and universities. After the adjustment of departments and departments, Peking University moved to the original site of Yanjing University, becoming a comprehensive university focusing on basic teaching and research in liberal arts and sciences, and cultivating a large number of talents for various industries in China. John Leighton Stuart (1876-1962) was an American Presbyterian missionary, diplomat, and educator. Born in Hangzhou in June 1876, his parents were American missionaries in China. He began to preach in China in 1904 and participated in the establishment of Hangzhou Yuying Academy (later Zhijiang University). In 1906, Leighton Stuart's only son, Jack, was also born in Hangzhou. In 1908, at the invitation of Nanjing Jinling Theological Seminary, Leighton Stuart left Hangzhou with his wife and children to take up his duties. Since 1919, he has served as President and Dean of Yanjing University. He served as U.S. Ambassador to China in 1946 and left China in August 1949. He died on September 19, 1962 in Washington, USA.