6th April 1440
Death of the founder of St Andrews
St Andrews, the first university in Scotland, was founded in 1411 by Bishop Wardlaw (although there are records of lectures having taken place the previous year) and confirmed by a declaration – or bull – two years later, issued by Pope Benedict XIII in Avignon. Wardlaw had spent time in the French city of Avignon himself, and had been made bishop there in 1403. He died in St Andrews castle.