John Evans (governor)

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For other persons named John Evans, see John Evans (disambiguation).

John Evans (9 March 1814 – 3 July 1897) was a US politician, physician, railroad promoter, and namesake of Evanston, Illinois and Mount Evans in Colorado. He is most noted for being one of the founders of both Northwestern University and the University of Denver.

Evans was born in Waynesville, Ohio to David Evans and Rachel Burnett. He graduated with a degree in medicine from Clermont Academy in 1838 and moved to Attica, Indiana, where he practiced medicine and helped founding the Indiana Central State Hospital in Indianapolis. He was appointed its first superintendent. He married, first (1838), Hannah Canby (1813-1850) and, second (1853), Margaret P. Gray (1830-1906). Hannah Canby Evans and three of their sons are buried in the old cemetery in Attica. He later moved to Chicago, where he helped found Lakeside Hospital, later named Mercy Hospital, and was responsible for bringing the Sisters of Mercy to staff the new Mercy Hospital, founded the Illinois Medical Society, and taught at Rush Medical College. His wealth garnered him a fair amount of political power; he founded the Illinois Republican Party and became a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln. He sold much of his Chicago holdings prior to a trip to England. While away, the property he sold was lost in the Great Chicago Fire. In 1855 he founded Northwestern University and from 1862 to 1865 was Governor of Colorado Territory. He founded the Denver Seminary alongside John Chivington, which later became the University of Denver. He was the chair of the Denver Seminary Board of Trustees until his death in 1897.

He died in Denver, Colorado. Along with John Chivington his name is connected with the Sand Creek Massacre. Father-in-law of Samuel Hitt Elbert, governor of Colorado territorital from 1873 to 1874. Mt. Evans near Denver is named in his honor. Mt. Elbert is named for his son-in-law.

In World War II the United States liberty ship SS John Evans was named in his honor.