one of the major public (i.e., privately endowed) schools (public school) in England. It was founded in 1509 by John Colet (Colet, John), dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in the City of London (London, City of). Originally located in the cathedral churchyard, the school was destroyed in the Great Fire (Great Fire of London) but rebuilt in 1670. The institution was removed from the City to Hammersmith Road in 1884, and in 1968 it was again relocated, to its present campus at Barnes in the London borough of Richmond upon Thames.

During the 19th century the school's enrollment increased substantially, along with its academic reputation. Among its pupils were the poet John Milton (Milton, John), the diarist Samuel Pepys (Pepys, Samuel), the astronomer and mathematician Edmond Halley (Halley, Edmond), and John Churchill, 1st duke of Marlborough (Marlborough, John Churchill, 1st Duke of, Marquess Of Blandford, Earl Of Marlborough, Baron Churchill Of Sandridge, Lord Churchill Of Eyemouth, Reichsfürst).