World's largest Baptist university. Founded under charter issued by congress of Republic of Texas on Feb. 1, 1845, and in continuous operation ever since.
Named for Judge R.E.B. Baylor (1791-1873), a native of Kentucky, an 1820s United States congressman from Alabama, one of the first district judges in Texas. Judge Baylor, with the Rev. William Tryon and the Rev. James Huckins, obtained the charter under the terms of a resolution of the Union Baptist Association to establish "A Baptist University ... to meet the needs of all the ages to come." First location was at Independence, in Washington County.
Early presidents were Henry L. Graves (1847-52); Rufus C. Burleson (1852-61), George W. Baines (1861-63), and William Carey Crane (1863-85). Texas Supreme Court justices Abner S. Lipscomb, Royal T. Wheeler, and Judge Baylor taught the first law classes. An early benefactor was General Sam Houston, who sent his children to the university and who initiated construction of the first woman's building.
In 1886 the university moved to Waco, where new schools have been added and the plant enlarged in later years. The Armstrong Browning Library, Texana collections, and other features are world renowned. (1970)