John Watson (college president)

John Watson
John Watson
First President of Jefferson College
	In office; August 29, 1802 – November 30, 1802
Succeeded by	James Dunlap
Personal details
Born	1771
Died	November 30, 1802; Washington County, Pennsylvania
Spouse	Margaret
Alma mater	Canonsburg Academy; College of New Jersey

John Watson was the first principal and president of and professor of moral philosophy at Jefferson College.

Watson, a native of Western Pennsylvania, was born in 1771 and was a student at Canonsburg Academy (later Jefferson College, now Washington & Jefferson College).^[1] He was a student of the school's founder, John McMillan, who was arranged for him to attend the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), from where he graduated in 1797.^[2] Watson married McMillan's second daughter, Margaret.^[2] In his time, Watson was known as an accomplished Latin and Greek scholar.^[1] He was one of the founders of the Philo Literary Society at Jefferson College.^[3]

A frail and intense man, in sharp contrast with his mentor and father-in-law McMillan, Watson was elected to the Presidency of Jefferson College (now Washington & Jefferson College) on August 29, 1802. Watson died on November 30, 1802, only three months after his ascension to the presidency and 2 days after the first Jefferson College diplomas were awarded.^[2] McMillan carried out his duties until the election of James Dunlap as the second president of Jefferson College.^[2]

References

Robert Smith, ed. (1831). "John Watson, of Pennsylvania, first President of Jefferson College". The Friend. A Religious and Literary Journal. Vol. IV. Philadelphia: Adam Waldie. pp. 339–340.
"John Watson". Select Biographies. Philadelphia: American Sunday-School Union. 1857. pp. 42–59.

^ ^a ^b "John Watson (1802-1802)". U. Grant Miller Library Digital Archives. Washington & Jefferson College. 2003-09-04.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Coleman, Helen Turnbull Waite (1956). Banners in the Wilderness: Early years of Washington and Jefferson College. University of Pittsburgh Press. pp. 60–61. ISBN 3-540-63293-X.
^ McClelland, W.C. (1903). "A History of Literary Societies at Washington & Jefferson College". The Centennial Celebration of the Chartering of Jefferson College in 1802. Philadelphia: George H. Buchanan and Company. pp. 111–132.

Academic offices
Preceded by Position created	President of Jefferson College 1802	Succeeded by James Dunlap

[library-1] "John Watson (1802-1802)". U. Grant Miller Library Digital Archives. Washington & Jefferson College. 2003-09-04.

[banner-2] Coleman, Helen Turnbull Waite (1956). Banners in the Wilderness: Early years of Washington and Jefferson College. University of Pittsburgh Press. pp. 60–61. ISBN 3-540-63293-X.

[3] McClelland, W.C. (1903). "A History of Literary Societies at Washington & Jefferson College". The Centennial Celebration of the Chartering of Jefferson College in 1802. Philadelphia: George H. Buchanan and Company. pp. 111–132.

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