While Jesuit teaching efforts in Manila date back to 1595, the Ateneo de Manila University traces its founding to 1859 when the Jesuits, at the behest of Governor-General Fernándo Norzagaray y Escudero, took charge of the "Escuela Municipal de Manila" (), a small school for the children of Spanish residents. In 1865, its name was changed to "Ateneo Municipal de Manila" () when it became accredited as a secondary school. It began offering the bachelor's degree, as well as courses leading to certificates in agriculture, surveying, and business. When Americans occupied the Philippines in 1902, its subsidy from the city was withdrawn. In 1908, the American colonial government licensed the Ateneo's bachelor degree and certificates in various disciplines. The Ateneo campus housed other Jesuit institutions of research and learning, such as the Manila Observatory and the San Jose Major Seminary. In 1909, the Jesuits removed the word ""Municipal"" from the school's name and it became simply the "Ateneo de Manila".