Joseph Cummings (March 3, 1817 – May 7, 1890) was the fifth president of Northwestern University from 1881-1890, president of Wesleyan University for 18 years from 1857-1875, and president of the predecessor of Syracuse University (Genesee College) from 1854 to 1857. He was also a Methodist minister and teacher.[1][2][3][4]
Born the son of a Methodist preacher in Falmouth, Maine, Cummings attended the Maine Wesleyan Seminary and graduated from Wesleyan University in 1840 with highest honors. A hard-working man who spent years as a teacher, professor, and newspaper editor before assuming the university presidencies at Northwestern, Wesleyan, and the predecessor of Syracuse. Cummings was a devoted student and inspirational leader until his death.
Cummings received the degrees of D.D. from Wesleyan and from Harvard University, and of LL. D. from Northwestern.