John Witherspoon Scott
John Witherspoon Scott | |
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Born | January 22, 1800 |
Died | 29 November 1892 White House, Washington, D.C., U.S. | (aged 92)
Alma mater | Yale University |
Occupation | Presbyterian minister, academic, college administrator |
Employer(s) | Miami University Oxford Female College Hanover College |
Spouse | Mary Potts Neal
(m. 1828; died 1876) |
Children | 5, including Caroline Harrison |
Relatives | Benjamin Harrison (son-in-law) Mary Harrison McKee (granddaughter) Russell Benjamin Harrison (grandson) Mary Dimmick Harrison (granddaughter) Elizabeth Harrison Walker (great-granddaughter) |
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John Witherspoon Scott (January 22, 1800 – November 29, 1892)[1] was an American Presbyterian minister, academic, and college administrator. His daughter Caroline Harrison became First Lady of the United States after her husband, Benjamin Harrison, 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. He received his college education at Yale University and was ordained as a Presbyterian minister.
Marriage and family
![Photo of Dr. John W. Scott](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/John_W._Scott_holding_Bible_-_DPLA_-_335c414ea470faf8dd6e949c01021256_%28page_1%29.jpg/300px-John_W._Scott_holding_Bible_-_DPLA_-_335c414ea470faf8dd6e949c01021256_%28page_1%29.jpg)
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.
- Caroline Lavinia "Carrie" Scott (1832–1892); married future United States President Benjamin Harrison 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 in Oxford, Ohio, 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, 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 Benjamin Harrison in 1853. Dr. Scott served as president of the Oxford Female College and as a professor at Hanover College.
Later years
After his wife's death, Scott lived with President and Mrs. Harrison in the White House during their term. Both he and his daughter died there in 1892, he a month after her.
References
- Articles with short description
- Short description with empty Wikidata description
- Use mdy dates from April 2021
- Pages using infobox person with multiple employers
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- Articles with hCards
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- 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