The Reverend Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh (1736 in Rosendale, New York–30 October, 1790 in New Brunswick, New Jersey) was the first President of Queen's College (now Rutgers University) from 1785 to his death in 1790. A noted preacher of the Dutch Reformed faith, Hardenbergh was active in establishing a college in New Jersey that would be affiliated with the Dutch church. In 1763, he journed to Europe in this effort, and appealed to King George III of England on behalf of the proposal. This effort was successful, and on 10 November 1766, Royal Governor William Franklin chartered Queen's College. Hardenbergh served as an early Trustee of the young college.

Reverend Hardenbergh served as a delegate to New Jersey's last Provincial Congress , which met in Burlington, New Jersey in 1776 to ratify the Declaration of Independence and to frame the first Constitution of the State of New Jersey (1776). He served several one-year terms in New Jersey's General Assembly. After a brief return to the ministry, Reverend Hardenbergh was selected by the Trustees of Queen's College to be the institution's first President in 1785. He served in this capacity until his death.

Reverend Hardenbergh died on 30 October 1790 from Tuberculosis and was buried in the cemetery of the First Reformed Church in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

External links

• Rutgers University
• Leadership on the Banks: Rutgers' Presidents, 1766–2004