John Watson was the first principal and president of and professor of
moral philosophy
Ethics is the philosophical study of moral phenomena. Also called moral philosophy, it investigates normative questions about what people ought to do or which behavior is morally right. Its main branches include normative ethics, applied et ...
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
Washington & Jefferson College (W&J College or W&J) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, United States. The college traces its origin to three Presbyterian m ...
).
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
Princeton University is a private university, private Ivy League research university in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the List of Colonial ...
), from where he graduated in 1797.
Watson married McMillan's second daughter, Margaret.
In his time, Watson was known as an accomplished Latin and Greek scholar.
He was one of the founders of the
Philo Literary Society at
Jefferson College.
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
Washington & Jefferson College (W&J College or W&J) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, United States. The college traces its origin to three Presbyterian m ...
) 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.
McMillan carried out his duties until the election of
James Dunlap
James Dunlap was the second president of Jefferson College from 1803 to 1811. Dunlap was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in 1744. He was a graduate of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) and was reputed to have excelled ...
as the second president of Jefferson College.
References
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, John
1771 births
1802 deaths
Presidents of Washington & Jefferson College
Princeton University alumni
Washington & Jefferson College alumni