Mercer University was founded in 1831, under the auspices of the Georgia Baptist convention. It was named in honor of Rev. Jesse Mercer, a Baptist divine and philanthropist, who was one o f the earliest advocates of a thorough education system. The institution was originally located at Penfield, but removed to Macon in 1870. The City of Macon donated $125,000 to the trustees to remove Mercer from Penfield to Macon, also giving 20 acres of land upon which to locate the buildings and to establish a campus.

Among it's presidents have been such men as Rev. Billington Smith, Rev. Otis Smith, Rev. John L. Bragg, D. D., Rev. Nathaniel M. Crawford, D. D., Rev. Henry H. Tucker, D. D., LL. D., Rev. A. J. Battie, D. D., LL.D, Rev. G. a. Nunnally, D. D., and Rev. J. B. Gambrell, D. D.

The university has several branches, including in Atlanta.