Gustavus Adolphus College is a private liberal arts college founded in 1862 by Eric Norelius and was originally named Minnesota Elementar Skola. In 1865 on the 1,000th year anniversary of the death of St. Ansgar, "the Apostle of the North," the college was renamed and incorporated as St. Ansgar's Academy. In May of 1873, the college was again renamed and reincorporated as Gustavus Adolphus Literary and Theological Institute in honor of the Swedish king, Gustav II Adolf. On October 16, 1876, opened as Gustavus Adolphus College in its new location in St. Peter, Minnesota. It is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.