| Authorised form of name | Yale; Elihu (1649 - 1721); merchant, colonial administrator in India, and benefactor of Yale University |
| Dates | 1649 - 1721 |
| Nationality | British |
| Place of birth | Boston, Massachusetts, British America |
| Date of birth | 05 April 1649 |
| Place of death | Queen Square, London, England |
| Date of death | 08 July 1721 |
| DatesAndPlaces | Burial:
St Giles Churchyard, Wreham, Wales |
| Occupation | merchant, colonial administrator in India, and benefactor of Yale University |
| Activity | Education:
William Dugard's school, London
Career:
Left America with his father (1652); clerk in the East India Company offices in Leadenhall Street (1670); chosen as one of the "Writers" in India (1671); lived at Fort Saint George [Madras] (1672-1699); Member of Major William Puckle's tour of inspection of the East India Company's Bengal establishment (1676); President and Governor of Fort Saint George, the East India Company’s installation at Madras (1687-1692); charged with having favoured private trading ventures and fined £3000 (he had made a fortune of £175,000); on his return, settled at his family's seat in Wales and traded as a diamond merchant in London; High Sheriff of Denbighshire (1704); became known for his philanthropy and sent a gift of books to the Collegiate School, Saybrooke, Connecticut (1714); Cotton Mather (FRS 1713) suggested that the school might be named after him and he sent further goods worth about £800, whereupon the school became Yale College (1718). |
| Membership category | Fellow |
| Date of election | 30/11/1717 |
| Age at election | 68 |
| Proposer | Sir Hans Sloane |
| Relationships | Parents: David Yale (1614–1690) of Denbighshire, merchant, and Ursula Yale (b. c.1624).
Spouse: Catherine Hynmers, née Elford (1651–1728), widow of Joseph Hynmers, Factor and Councillor of Madras.
Children: 1) With Catherine: David (d.1688), Catherine, Anne, and Ursula. 2) With Hieronima da Paiva (mistress): Charles (1690–1712).
Sonin-law: Lord James Cavendish (FRS 1719) |
| OtherInfo | The wealth he amassed during his tenure at the British East India Company earned him the honour of having Yale University named after him.
He was noted for his cruelty and greed whilst in Madras.
Recent historical discourse points to evidence of his involvement in the Indian Ocean slave trade. |
| Source | Sources:
Bulloch's Roll; DAB; DNB |
| Code | NA527 |