The College of the Holy Virgin in Nativity (now called King's College) was erected by papal bull, 1494, and established in 1497 by Bishop William Elphinstone of Aberdeen, Hector Boece being its first principal; the original chapel still remains. Marischal College was founded by the Earl Marischal in 1593 on the site of a Franciscan friary. These universities were united, 1860. Students (1925), 1800, of whom fewer than 20 are Catholics.