John Watson (college president)

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. IV. Philadelphia: Adam Waldie. pp. 339–340. 
• "John Watson". Select Biographies. Philadelphia: American Sunday-School Union. 1857. pp. 42–59.