McGill University Publicly funded, privately administered institution of higher learning in montreal, Quebec. The university was founded in 1821 with land and money donated by Scottish fur trader and philanthropist James McGill; the institution was opened in 1829 and reorganized in 1855McGill University • Publicly funded, privately administered institution of higher learning in Montreal, Québec. The university was founded in 1821 with land and money donated by Scottish fur trader and philanthropist James McGill; the institution was opened in 1829 and reorganized in 1855