Oglethorpe University, located in Atlanta, Georgia, was chartered in 1835 and began as a Presbyterian institution in the town of Midway, making it one of the earliest denominational institutions below the Virginia line. The university was named for James Edward Oglethorpe, founder of the colony of Georgia. After closing in 1862 because of the Civil War, the school reopened for a short time in the early 1870s. Oglethorpe was rechartered in 1913, and in 1916, classes began at the university's present location on Peachtree Road. Throughout its history, the university has garnered national and international attention through its famous alumni, such as poet Sidney Lanier; by conferring honorary degrees on prominent societal leaders, including Franklin D. Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson; and because of its beautiful campus and historic buildings. Since its refounding in Atlanta, Oglethorpe University has earned a reputation for offering students a strong liberal arts education, preparing graduates to "make a life, make a living, and make a difference."