In 1858 Brother John McMahon, O.S.F. and Brother Vincent Hayes, O.S.F. from the Roundstone Monastery in Ireland came to the United States to begin work on establishing an academy dedicated to educating underprivileged youth in the Brooklyn diocese.
This was done at the request of the Bishop of Brooklyn, Reverend John Loughlin.
In 1859 St. Francis College was founded as the St. Francis Academy, the first Catholic school in Brooklyn.
St. Francis Academy started in a building on 300 Baltic Street in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, with 30 students and 6 Brothers.
The first President was founder Brother John McMahon.
The Academy expanded and grew to encompass six row houses, with 150 feet (46 m) of frontage and a former Methodist Church on Baltic Street.

In 1868, the academy was incorporated and on May 8, 1884 it was chartered: the trustees of the Academy received permission from the New York State Legislature to “establish a literary college in the City of Brooklyn under the title of St. Francis College, with the same powers to confer diplomas and literary honors possessed by the universities and colleges of New York State.”
 St. Francis Academy became St. Francis College, and in June 1885 bestowed its first Bachelor of Arts degree.
By 1884, St. Francis College encompassed interconnected buildings that were on Baltic and Butler Streets, between Court and Smith Streets.
The entrance to the College was on Baltic Street and the entrance to the monastery was on Butler Street.
 In June 1892, the college conferred it first Bachelor of Science degree.
In 1896, St. Francis fielded the first collegiate men's basketball team in the New York City.
Then in 1902 St. Francis received its charter from the State of New York in May. From this time on, the College's curriculum offered only a post-secondary course of study.
By 1917, the College's enrollment dropped to half due to students enlisting in the military as the United States entered World War I. In 1926, the Franciscan Brothers opened a new facility on Butler Street after raising US$250,000 through a fundraising campaign dubbed the "Great Drive."
Less than ten years later, its preparatory school moved out and eventually became a legally separate institution, St. Francis Preparatory School, and is now located in Queens.

As the U.S. moved closer to its entrance into World War II, 240 students were enrolled at St. Francis.
While the student body remained mostly Irish, the changing demographics of working class Brooklyn were reflected by the growing number of Italian-American students.
By the spring semester of 1944, when the war was at its peak, the number of students enrolled dropped to 45.
Most of those still enrolled were members of the Franciscan order and those exempt from military service (12 SFC students gave their lives to the war effort).
After the War and with the passage of the G.I. Bill, which paid tuition for returning soldiers, enrollment at St. Francis increased to 878 students.
In 1957, the Regents of the University of the State of New York granted an absolute Charter to the Trustees of the College making it a separate legal entity from the St. Francis Monastery.
The new corporate status enabled St. Francis students to qualify for federal financial aid.
Shortly after, in 1959, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education accredited St. Francis College.
After these developments the College embarked on an expansion program, in 1960 it was announced that five office buildings in the Brooklyn Civic Center were purchased for $5 million from the Brooklyn Union Gas Company.
In 1961, the college purchased the Herman Behr Mansion in Brooklyn Heights to serve as a residence for the Franciscan Brothers and signaled the move from Cobble Hill to Brooklyn Heights.
In 1858 Brother John McMahon, O.S.F. and Brother Vincent Hayes, O.S.F. from the Roundstone Monastery in Ireland came to the United States to begin work on establishing an academy dedicated to educating underprivileged youth in the Brooklyn diocese. This was done at the request of the Bishop of Brooklyn, Reverend John Loughlin. In 1859 St. Francis College was founded as the St. Francis Academy, the first Catholic school in Brooklyn. St. Francis Academy started in a building on 300 Baltic Street in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, with 30 students and 6 Brothers. The first President was founder Brother John McMahon. The Academy expanded and grew to encompass six row houses, with 150 feet (46 m) of frontage and a former Methodist Church on Baltic Street.
In 1868, the academy was incorporated and on May 8, 1884 it was chartered: the trustees of the Academy received permission from the New York State Legislature to “establish a literary college in the City of Brooklyn under the title of St. Francis College, with the same powers to confer diplomas and literary honors possessed by the universities and colleges of New York State.”  St. Francis Academy became St. Francis College, and in June 1885 bestowed its first Bachelor of Arts degree. By 1884, St. Francis College encompassed interconnected buildings that were on Baltic and Butler Streets, between Court and Smith Streets. The entrance to the College was on Baltic Street and the entrance to the monastery was on Butler Street.  In June 1892, the college conferred it first Bachelor of Science degree. In 1896, St. Francis fielded the first collegiate men's basketball team in the New York City. Then in 1902 St. Francis received its charter from the State of New York in May. From this time on, the College's curriculum offered only a post-secondary course of study. By 1917, the College's enrollment dropped to half due to students enlisting in the military as the United States entered World War I. In 1926, the Franciscan Brothers opened a new facility on Butler Street after raising US$250,000 through a fundraising campaign dubbed the "Great Drive." Less than ten years later, its preparatory school moved out and eventually became a legally separate institution, St. Francis Preparatory School, and is now located in Queens.
As the U.S. moved closer to its entrance into World War II, 240 students were enrolled at St. Francis. While the student body remained mostly Irish, the changing demographics of working class Brooklyn were reflected by the growing number of Italian-American students. By the spring semester of 1944, when the war was at its peak, the number of students enrolled dropped to 45. Most of those still enrolled were members of the Franciscan order and those exempt from military service (12 SFC students gave their lives to the war effort). After the War and with the passage of the G.I. Bill, which paid tuition for returning soldiers, enrollment at St. Francis increased to 878 students. In 1957, the Regents of the University of the State of New York granted an absolute Charter to the Trustees of the College making it a separate legal entity from the St. Francis Monastery. The new corporate status enabled St. Francis students to qualify for federal financial aid. Shortly after, in 1959, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education accredited St. Francis College. After these developments the College embarked on an expansion program, in 1960 it was announced that five office buildings in the Brooklyn Civic Center were purchased for $5 million from the Brooklyn Union Gas Company. In 1961, the college purchased the Herman Behr Mansion in Brooklyn Heights to serve as a residence for the Franciscan Brothers and signaled the move from Cobble Hill to Brooklyn Heights.
St. Francis College