The town of Princeton was established in 1696.

Princeton University was founded in 1746 in Princeton, New Jersey. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the United States.

In 1747, the College of New Jersey relocated to Newark, New Jersey.

In 1748, the Charter of The College of New Jersey, which is now known as Princeton University, was signed. This document laid the foundation for the establishment of the university.

Nassau Hall was completed in 1753, marking the relocation of the College of New Jersey from Newark to Princeton.

In 1756, the College of New Jersey relocated from Newark to Prince-Town, marking the beginning of Princeton's history in its current location.

A copper engraving from 1764, based on a drawing by William Tennent, depicts Nassau Hall and Maclean House at Princeton University. Nassau Hall, completed in 1756, was the largest stone building in America at the time. Maclean House, the residence of the college president, still stands today.

In 1766, six enslaved individuals were sold in a sale that took place at Maclean House, which was then known as the President's House.

John Witherspoon, a prominent evangelical Presbyterian minister from Scotland, became the sixth president of Princeton College in 1768, where he made significant changes to the institution's curriculum and philosophy.

The Cliosophic Debating Society was established in 1769 at Princeton University, fostering intellectual discourse and debate among students.

John Witherspoon, a former president of the College of New Jersey, signed the Declaration of Independence in 1770.

James Madison, the fourth president of the United States and an influential founding father, graduated from Princeton University in 1771. His time at the university played a significant role in shaping his future political career.

In 1776, the Continental Congress met at Nassau Hall in Princeton University, where it approved the State Constitution. It was also the location where General Washington was thanked for his service and news of the Treaty of Paris was received.

After the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777, the British surrendered to General Washington at Nassau Hall. One of the shots from Alexander Hamilton's battery mutilated the portrait of George II during the surrender.

Nassau Hall served as the National Capitol from June to November in 1783. The Continental Congress received General Washington here to convey the nation's thanks for his service, and news of the Treaty of Paris, officially ending the war, was received during this time.

James Madison, a former president of the United States and a graduate of the College of New Jersey, became the first president of the Alumni Association in 1792.

In 1799, Princeton College's revised charter mandated the trustees to support the newly established Constitution of the United States of America.

In March 1802, a devastating fire destroyed Nassau Hall, causing significant damage to Princeton College.

In 1804, Betsey Stockton, an enslaved woman from Philadelphia, was first recorded within the household of Rev. Ashbel Green, who was the President of Princeton University.

During the winter semester of 1806-07, under the presidency of Samuel Stanhope Smith, a student riot occurred at Princeton University due to little faculty-student rapport, crowded conditions, and strict school rules. College authorities condemned it as a sign of moral decay.

The role in training Presbyterian ministers was reduced following the founding of the independent Princeton Theological Seminary in 1812, separate from the College.

In 1814, student unrest at Princeton College led to an explosion at the front door of Nassau Hall, along with several other incidents.

William Potter Ross, who later became the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, graduated from Princeton in 1826.

In 1839, a Princeton student reported University employee James Collins Johnson for being a fugitive slave. As a result, the University honored Johnson by naming an archway in East Pyne after him and installing a permanent marker.

Hikoichi Orita made history by becoming the first known Asian graduate from Princeton in 1842.

In 1868, President James McCosh broadened the curriculum, allowed student choice in courses, founded the School of Science, and instituted formal graduate study at Princeton University.

The Princeton University Art Museum was established in 1876 to house and display the university's art collections.

Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of the United States, graduated from Princeton University in 1879. Wilson also served as the president of Princeton from 1902 to 1910, leaving a lasting impact on the university.

The Princeton College Dramatic Association, later known as the Triangle Club, was established in 1882.

In 1888, Pedro Rioseco made history by becoming the first known Hispanic graduate from Princeton University, contributing to the diversity of the student body.

The honor system was established at Princeton University in 1893, promoting academic integrity and ethical conduct among students.

Alexander Hall, completed in 1894, contains the 900-seat Richardson Auditorium and was named in honor of the Alexander family who served as University trustees. It was previously the site of annual Commencement ceremonies and other major events.

In 1896, the College of New Jersey achieved University status and was officially renamed Princeton University, marking a significant milestone in its history.

The Graduate School was established at Princeton University in 1900, providing advanced academic opportunities for students pursuing postgraduate studies.

In his 1902 inaugural address as Princeton's president, Woodrow Wilson promoted a leadership model focusing on training a small group of undergraduates for national leadership, emphasizing 'the minority who plan, who conceive, who superintend.'

In 1905, President Woodrow Wilson implemented a system of preceptorials at Princeton University, enhancing the academic support and learning experience for students.

In 1906, Andrew Carnegie created Lake Carnegie, a significant water body located near Princeton University, serving both practical and aesthetic purposes.

The Graduate College was dedicated at Princeton University in 1913, providing a dedicated space for postgraduate studies and research.

In 1915, Beatrix Farrand made history by becoming the first woman landscape architect at Princeton University, leaving a lasting impact on the campus design.

Following approval by Congress in April 1917, the US declared war on Germany. Around 6,000 Princeton staff, alumni, and students enlisted in the military by the end of the conflict.

Hobey Baker, a Princeton alumnus and star athlete, enlisted as a pilot and tragically died in a plane crash in December 1918. In his honor, Princeton named its new hockey arena Hobey Baker Memorial Rink.

In 1919, the School of Architecture was established at Princeton University, further diversifying the academic disciplines offered at the institution.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's debut novel, This Side of Paradise, was published in 1920. The novel, featuring a Princeton undergraduate as the principal character, contributed to the university's reputation for elitism.

The School of Engineering was established at Princeton University in 1921, enriching the educational opportunities available at the institution.

Harvard agreed to play football against the University of Michigan instead of Princeton, threatening the 'Big Three' relationship.

The second volume of the biography 'Woodrow Wilson Life and Letters' by Ray Stannard Baker was published by Doubleday in 1927, focusing on Wilson's life at Princeton University from 1890 to 1910.

In 1928, the Princeton University Chapel was dedicated, serving as a significant religious and architectural landmark on campus.

The 1929 stock market crash and the ensuing Great Depression in the 1930s led to financial difficulties for some Princeton students. The university's endowment, however, was largely protected through wise investments advised by Dean Mathey.

The renowned Institute for Advanced Study was established in 1930, associated with Princeton University but independent of it. It is where Albert Einstein spent the last two decades of his life.

In 1933, Albert Einstein became a life member of the Institute for Advanced Study, having an office on the Princeton University campus.

Future U.S. President John F. Kennedy began his undergraduate studies at Princeton in 1935. Although his time at the university was brief due to illness, his academic journey eventually led him to Harvard University.

In 1938, Alan Turing, a pioneering figure in computer science and a victim of persecution due to his sexual orientation, earned his PhD in Mathematics from Princeton University.

In June 1940, a legendary figure at Princeton was known for playing practical jokes on none other than Einstein.

In 1941, under President Harold Dodds, Princeton University acquired an 825-acre property along Route 1 north of Princeton, which was later named Forrestal Campus in honor of James V. Forrestal. The property provided facilities for research in engineering and nuclear physics, including early nuclear research during the war years for the Manhattan Project.

On January 1, 1944, an Army training program was convened in Richardson Auditorium at Princeton University.

Upon the surrender of Germany on May 8, 1945, and Japan on August 14, 1945, students, faculty, staff, and other volunteers from the campus community took turns for long periods continuously ringing the bell in Nassau Hall.

In 1947, Joseph Ralph Moss, a resident of Princeton, became the first African American to enroll as an undergraduate at Princeton University during peacetime. He later graduated in 1951.

Princeton did not have its first black graduate until 1948, despite other Ivy League schools accepting small numbers of black students earlier.

In 1951, Princeton University established the Forrestal Campus on U.S. Route 1, which later became the site for groundbreaking research in nuclear fusion under the name Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL).

In 1955, Charles T. Davis was appointed as the first African American professor at Princeton University, contributing to the university's efforts towards diversity and inclusivity.

In 1963, T’sai-Ying Cheng made history by becoming the first woman to receive a degree from Princeton University. Her achievement paved the way for more women to pursue higher education at the prestigious institution.

In 1964, T'sai-ying Cheng became the first woman to be awarded a Ph.D. degree from Princeton University, marking a milestone in academic achievement and gender equality.

On January 16, 1965, George Farley made history by scoring 47 points in a game against Princeton, breaking an Ivy League and school record. Despite the impressive performance, his team lost 83-73, with Farley contributing 28 points in the second half alone.

Paul C. Williams, Dr. Carl A. Fields, and A. Deane Buchanan attended the first dinner banquet of Princeton's Association of Black Collegians in May 1968.

On November 15, 1969, protests against the US involvement in the Vietnam War took place at Princeton University. This included participation in the March on Washington to End the War in Vietnam and on-campus demonstrations, such as the University band displaying a 'Make Peace--Not Politics' sign during the Princeton-Yale football game halftime.

In April 1970, after President Richard Nixon announced the US bombing of Communist forces in Cambodia, mass protest meetings were held on the Princeton University campus. Many students cut classes, burned draft cards, and engaged in various demonstrations against the War.

In 1971, Princeton Students established the Women's Center, two years after the university began admitting female students. This initiative aimed to support and empower women within the Princeton community.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities. Princeton University adheres to this policy in its admission and employment practices.

In 1973, Dr. Robert Rivers made history by becoming the first African American to serve on Princeton University's Board of Trustees. In recognition of his contributions, a roadway on campus was named 'Rivers Way' and a portrait was commissioned in his honor.

In 1976, Sonia Sotomayor graduated from Princeton University. She went on to make history by becoming the first Latina Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

A comprehensive encyclopedia about Princeton University published in 1978.

A book by Marcia Graham Synnott examining discrimination and admissions practices at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton from 1900 to 1970, published in 1979.

By 1980, Princeton University saw a significant shift in the composition of its faculty members, with individuals from various backgrounds such as Jews, blacks, women, and other minorities holding faculty positions, marking a departure from the previous exclusivity.

Richard A. Harrison released two volumes in 1981, focusing on the biographies of Princetonians from 1769 to 1783, providing valuable historical insights.

Under the presidency of William G. Bowen, the residential college system was officially established at Princeton University. This period also saw a significant increase in the university's endowment and the initiation of a major fundraising drive.

In 1989, Toni Morrison was appointed as the Robert F. Goheen Professor of Comparative Literature. She later became the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Ruth L. Woodward and Wesley Frank Craven collaborated on a biographical dictionary in 1991, documenting the lives of Princetonians from 1784 to 1790.

In 1993, Professor Emerita Toni Morrison, who taught courses in humanities and African American studies, became the first African American to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

In 1994, Denny Chin, a Princeton University alumnus from the class of '75, was appointed as one of the pioneering Asian-American Federal Judges in the United States. The University also commissioned a portrait of Judge Chin to honor his achievement.

A book by Don Oberdorfer providing a detailed look at Princeton University, heavily illustrated and published in 1995.

In 1996, Princeton University celebrated its 250th anniversary.

A guide to the architecture of Princeton University published in 2000 by Raymond Rhinehart.

Shirley M. Tilghman became the first female president of Princeton University in 2001. During her tenure, she focused on expanding financial aid offerings and overseeing major construction projects.

In 2002, Shirley Tilghman, a professor of life sciences and prominent researcher in microbiology, was elected as the first woman president of Princeton University. She served until resigning in 2013.

An article in the Princeton University Library Chronicle discussing the intersection of natural and theological science at Princeton from 1845 to 1859.

A book by Jeffry H. Morrison focusing on John Witherspoon's role in the founding of the American Republic, published in 2005.

A book by James Axtell discussing the evolution of Princeton University from the Woodrow Wilson era to the present day, published in 2006.

In 2007, the Center for African American Studies was established at Princeton University. Trustees approved an African American studies concentration and launched a four-year residential college system with the opening of Whitman College.

In 2009, Princeton University started the Bridge Year Program where students defer admission for one year to engage in international service.

Christopher L. Eisgruber is named as the 20th president of Princeton University in 2013.

In 2014, Sonia Sotomayor received the Woodrow Wilson Award, the highest honor for undergraduate alumni at Princeton University. During the ceremony on Alumni Day, she suggested expanding Princeton's informal motto to include service to all nations and humanity.

In 2015, the Black Justice League, a student group at Princeton University, organized large-scale sit-ins at Nassau Hall. These protests garnered national attention and eventually led to the renaming of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs in 2020.

In 2016, University trustees rejected demands to remove Woodrow Wilson's name from the School of Public and International Affairs and Woodrow Wilson College. Instead, they adopted a policy to highlight past evidence of racism and discrimination by Wilson and other University leaders.

In 2017, Princeton University launched the Princeton & Slavery Project, a comprehensive investigation into the university's historical involvement with slavery. The project included the publication of primary sources, scholarly essays, a conference, plays, and an art project.

In April 2018, Princeton University trustees announced the naming of two public spaces in honor of James Collins Johnson and Betsey Stockton, enslaved individuals who lived and worked on the university's campus. This decision was influenced by the Princeton & Slavery Project.

In 2019, student sit-ins and social media activism at Princeton University addressed concerns regarding the implementation of federal Title IX policy related to campus sexual assault. The activism was sparked by a student's disciplinary sentence, seen as retaliatory by many.

In June 2020, the Board of Trustees at Princeton University announced the decision to remove Woodrow Wilson's name from both the School of Public and International Affairs and Wilson College. The decision was made due to Wilson's racist thinking and policies.

In 2022, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa ’86 and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Julia Wolfe returned to Princeton University campus to receive Alumni Day honors.

A Princeton student's abduction in March 2024 brings attention to the connections between a terror group and the Iraqi government.

In March 2024, Princeton students engage in activism to secure the release of a fellow student, despite facing resistance from a professor.

In March 2024, Princeton University students and local businesses come together to support the Lady Tigers basketball team after their success in the NCAA tournament.