The University of Aberdeen is an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland. It is the third oldest university in Scotland and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world. The modern University of Aberdeen was formed in 1860 by the merger of two pre-existing ancient universities: King's College, located in Old Aberdeen and Marischal College, founded in 1593 and located in the new city of Aberdeen. The University of Aberdeen is one of the ancient universities of Scotland. The first university in Aberdeen, King's College, was founded in February 1495 by William Elphinstone, Bishop of Aberdeen and Chancellor of Scotland, drafting a request on behalf of King James IV to Pope Alexander VI resulting in a Papal Bull being issued. The university was established near St Machar's Cathedral, and its chapel, consecrated in 1509, was dedicated to the Trinity and the Blessed Virgin Mary in her Nativity. The first principal was Hector Boece, graduate and professor of the University of Paris, who worked closely with Elphinstone to develop the university.