University of Strathclyde: Overview of University of Strathclyde
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Definitive description of University of Strathclyde (Glasgow City) from the Gazetteer for Scotland
The University of Strathclyde traces its origins back to Anderson's Institution, which was established in 1796 in the midst of the first Industrial Revolution. Its founder, John Anderson, who was a contemporary of James Watt and Adam Smith, left instructions that an institution be established for 'the Good of Mankind and the Improvement of Science - a place of useful learning'. Through merger, the Andersonian Institution became the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College in 1886. It was confirmed as a centre for educational training in 1912 and renamed the Royal Technical College and by 1956 it had become the Royal College of Science and Technology.

Under the leadership of Sir Samuel Curran (1912-98), the University of Strathclyde was created by Royal Charter in 1964 as a merger between the Royal College of Science and Technology and the Scottish College of Commerce. It was further enhanced in April 1993 when Jordanhill College of Education (established in 1921), one of the largest and most highly respected institutions of its kind in the UK, became the University's Faculty of Education.

The main campus is the John Anderson Campus in the centre of Glasgow, where the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Engineering, Science and the Strathclyde Business School are located, whilst the Jordanhill Campus, which occupies 27 ha (67 acres) in the west end of the city, is home to the Faculty of Education.