St. Xavier's College

St. Xavier's College was founded on 2 January 1869 in Bombay by German Jesuits, beginning with only two students. Swiss Jesuit Joseph Michael Willi served as its first principal from 1869 to 1873. The Bombay University granted formal recognition on 30 January 1869. Under Principal Frederick Dreckmann, the college expanded rapidly from 1884 to 1910, adding a hostel (1909) and a science wing (1912). Women were first admitted in 1912. During World War I, German Jesuits were interned, causing administrative disruption later mitigated by Swiss, Luxemburger, and English Jesuits. By the 1920s, science departments like Chemistry and Biology were established, and the college began offering additional languages. The 1930s saw major architectural expansion under Gonzalo Palacios, including a new library and chapel. After India's independence, new departments such as Sociology and Anthropology (1951) and Psychology (1957) were introduced. The college is affiliated with the University of Mumbai, was the first to receive autonomy from it in 2010, and earned an 'A+' NAAC grade in 2006. Notably, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited in 2009, and President Barack Obama visited in 2010.