<P> The university began as The Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi ( or Mississippi A&M ) , one of the national land - grant colleges established after Congress passed the Morrill Act in 1862 . It was created by the Mississippi Legislature on February 28 , 1878 , to fulfill the mission of offering training in `` agriculture , horticulture and the mechanical arts ... without excluding other scientific and classical studies , including military tactics . '' The university received its first students in the fall of 1880 in the presidency of General Stephen D. Lee . </P>
<P> The university began as The Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi ( or Mississippi A&M ) , one of the national land - grant colleges established after Congress passed the Morrill Act in 1862 . It was created by the Mississippi Legislature on February 28 , 1878 , to fulfill the mission of offering training in `` agriculture , horticulture and the mechanical arts ... without excluding other scientific and classical studies , including military tactics . '' The university received its first students in the fall of 1880 in the presidency of General Stephen D. Lee . </P>
who is the founder of mississippi state university
who is the founder of mississippi state university
the Mississippi Legislature
the Mississippi Legislature