The College of Pharmacy is one of 10 academic divisions, or Colleges, of Purdue University. It was established in 1884, and is the third oldest state-funded school of pharmacy in the United States. The school has consistently ranked highly among its peer institutions.

James Henry Smart was an American educator and administrator who served as the fourth president of Purdue University from August 23, 1883, until his death in 1900. An initiative of his led to the founding of the organization today known as the Big Ten Conference in 1896.