Nobili, John
Dates
- Existence: 1812-04-08-1856-05 - 1856-05-01
Biography
The Rev. John Nobili, S.J. was the founder of Santa Clara College and its first president from 1851-1856. Giovanni [John] Nobili was born in Rome on April 8, 1812. After entering the Jesuits in 1828 at the age of 16 he began his theological studies, and later was ordained in 1843. A year later he accompanied Father Peter De Smet to the Indian missions of Oregon. After a few strenuous years of ministry in the Northwest, Nobili accompanied Father Michael Accolti to California in 1849 to recuperate. Nobili inherited the sole responsibility for the project Accolti had begun to build a school near San Jose when the mission at Santa Clara was offered to the Jesuits with the agreement that they begin an educational institution. In March 1851 Nobili took possession of the property from the Franciscans, and committed himself and his order to educational work in California. It was this work that would distinguish Nobili as the founder of the first permanent school in American California. During the next five years, Nobili encountered innumerable problems in his effort to establish the college. Under his resourceful guidance from 1851-1856, the fledgling school expanded, upgraded its academic instruction, and achieved a high reputation. Nobili petitioned for a charter from the state in 1855 which was readily granted. In February, 1856, as Nobili inspected the construction of the college's first new building, a brick chapel, he stepped on a nail and contracted tetanus. After suffering from lockjaw for two days, he died on May 1. His premature death at the age of 44 was mourned throughout the state.