Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest academic honor society in the U.S., holds its first meeting at the College of William & Mary.

The Phi Beta Kappa Society (ΦΒΚ) is the oldest academic honor society in the United States. It was founded in 1776 at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. Phi Beta Kappa aims to promote and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences, and to induct outstanding students of arts and sciences at select American colleges and universities. Since its inception, its inducted members include 17 United States presidents, 42 United States Supreme Court justices, and 136 Nobel laureates.

The College of William & Mary is a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1693 under a royal charter issued by King William III and Queen Mary II, it is the second-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States, and the ninth-oldest in the English-speaking world. William & Mary is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity". The university is among the original nine colonial colleges.

December 5 is the 339th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 26 days remain until the end of the year.