John Witherspoon Scott (January 22, 1800 – November 29, 1892)''A Genealogy of the Wives of the American Presidents''
/ref> was an American

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...

minister, academic, and college administrator. His daughter

Caroline Harrison Caroline Lavinia Harrison (; October 10, 1832 – October 25, 1892) was an American music teacher and the first lady of the United States from 1889 until her death. She was married to President Benjamin Harrison, and she was the second first la ...

became First Lady of the United States after her husband,

Benjamin Harrison Benjamin Harrison (August 20, 1833March 13, 1901) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 23rd president of the United States from 1889 to 1893. He was a member of the Harrison family of Virginia–a grandson of the ninth pr ...

, was elected as president.

Early life and education

The son of George McElroy Scott (1759–1848) and Anna Rey (1775–1852), John was born in

Beaver County, Pennsylvania Beaver County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 168,215. Its county seat is Beaver. The county was created on March 12, 1800, from parts of Allegheny and Washington counties. It took ...

. He received his college education at

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Sta ...

and was ordained as a Presbyterian minister.

Marriage and family

Scott married Mary Potts Neal (12 October 1811 – 1876). They had five children: * Elizabeth Mayhew Scott (1828–1889); married in 1849 Russell Farnham Lord (1802–1867), and had issue, including

Mary Dimmick Harrison Mary Dimmick Harrison ( Mary Scott Lord; April 30, 1858 – January 5, 1948) was the second wife of Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president of the United States. She was nearly 25 years younger than Harrison, and was the niece of his first wif ...

. * Caroline Lavinia "Carrie" Scott (1832–1892); married future United States President

in 1853, and had issue. * John Neal Scott (1836–1898); married Eleanor Gorgas and had issue. * Henry M. Scott (1838–1877) * Mary E. Scott (1843–1872); married James W. Spear and had issue.

Career

Scott was hired in the 1820s at

Miami University Miami University (informally Miami of Ohio or simply Miami) is a public research university in Oxford, Ohio. The university was founded in 1809, making it the second-oldest university in Ohio (behind Ohio University, founded in 1804) and the ...

Oxford, Ohio Oxford is a city in Butler County, Ohio, United States. The population was 23,035 at the 2020 census. A college town, Oxford was founded as a home for Miami University and lies in the southwestern portion of the state approximately northwest ...

, as its first professor of science. He was fired for his anti-slavery views during the presidency of George Junkin. After teaching for several years in

Cincinnati Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wit ...

, Scott returned to Oxford in 1849, having been appointed as the first president of the Presbyterian Oxford Female Institute. His daughter Caroline graduated from there in 1852. As minister, Scott presided over the wedding of his daughter to

in 1853. Dr. Scott served as president of the Oxford Female College and as a professor at

Hanover College Hanover College is a private college in Hanover, Indiana, affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Founded in 1827 by Reverend John Finley Crowe, it is Indiana's oldest private college. The Hanover athletic teams participate in the H ...

Later years

After his wife's death, Scott lived with President and Mrs. Harrison in the

White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in ...

during their term. Both he and his daughter died there in 1892, he a month after her.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scott, John Witherspoon 1800 births 1892 deaths People from Beaver County, Pennsylvania Miami University faculty 19th-century Presbyterian ministers Hanover College faculty Yale University alumni Academics from Pennsylvania Academics from Ohio Benjamin Harrison