| Jonathan Edwards | |
|---|---|
| First President of Washington & Jefferson College | |
| Term | April 4, 1866 – April 20, 1869 |
| Predecessor | John W. Scott (Washington College) David Hunter Riddle (Jefferson College) |
| Successor | George P. Hays |
| Born | July 19, 1817 Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Died | July 13, 1891 (aged 73) Peoria, Illinois |
| Alma mater | Hanover College |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
Jonathan Edwards was the 1st president of Washington & Jefferson College following the union of Washington College and Jefferson College.[1]
Edwards was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on July 19, 1817. He graduated from Hanover College in 1835 and from Hanover's theological department in 1838.[1] Edwards taught in Kentucky from 1838 to 1842 before becoming ordained clergy in the Presbyterian Church in 1844.[1] He served as pastor at various churches in Ohio, Maryland, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Edwards served as the fifth president of Hanover College from 1855 through 1857.[1]
On April 4, 1866, Edwards was elected as the first president of the newly-unified Washington & Jefferson College.[1] By the end of his presidency, the college was considering consolidating the two campuses, a direction Edwards supported.[1] Edwards resigned the presidency of W&J on April 20, 1869 to accept a pastoral charge in Baltimore.[1] He died in Peoria, Illinois on July 13, 1891.[1]
| Academic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Thomas E. Thomas |
President of Hanover College 1855–1857 |
Succeeded by James Wood |
| Preceded by David Hunter Riddle (Jefferson College) John W. Scott (Washington College) |
President of Washington and Jefferson College 1866–1869 |
Succeeded by Samuel J. Wilson (Interim) |