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'{{Distinguish|John Wesley Johnson (politician)}}{{Infobox officeholder | name = John Wesley Johnson | image = Johnwesleyjohnson.jpg | caption = | order = 1st | title = President of the<br />[[University of Oregon]] | term_start = July 26, 1876 | term_end = 1893 | birth_date = March 22, 1836 | birth_place = Missouri, USA | death_date = September 14, 1893 | death_place = Eugene, Oregon | predecessor = | successor = | alma_mater = [[Pacific University]]<br> [[Yale University]] | residence = | profession = [[Administrator]] and [[Professor]] | religion = | spouse = | children = | website = | footnotes = }} '''John Wesley Johnson''' (born 22 March 1836-September 14, 1893) was a famous figure in the early development of Oregon's higher education. He is probably best known today as the first [[University president|President]] of the [[University of Oregon]], serving from 1876 to 1893. ==Early years== In 1850, John Wesley Johnson and his family immigrated from Missouri to the [[Oregon Territory]].<ref name=Oregon>Corning, Howard M. ''Dictionary of Oregon History''. Binfords & Mort Publishing, 1956.</ref> Like many families who ventured West on the [[Oregon Trail]], the Johnsons experienced many hardships. Johnson's mother and sister both died on the journey. A mere 14 years of age, Johnson was tasked with driving the family's team of oxen along the 2,000-mile trek to their new home in [[Corvallis, Oregon]]. During this period, Corvallis was one of the most politically influential cities in the Oregon Territory and briefly served as the capital in 1855. While growing up in Missouri, Johnson had no formal education and first learned to read and write at the age of 10.<ref>{{cite web |title=John Wesley Johnson |url=http://www.eugenemasoniccemetery.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/uo.pdf |website=eugenemasoniccemetery.org/ |publisher=Eugene Masonic Cemetery |access-date=11 July 2021}}</ref> As a 17-year-old, Johnson first began attending school in Corvallis and was said to have excelled academically. Amongst his teachers, he had a reputation as a brilliant student, which allowed him to graduate early. The next year, he enrolled in [[Pacific University]] in [[Forest Grove, Oregon|Forest Grove]]. Johnson completed the college's available higher-level curriculum over the next two years (1854-1855) and then returned to Corvallis to serve as the first instructor and principal of Corvallis Academy (1856-1860). The academy, which eventually became [[Oregon State University]], offered the first form of public higher education to residents of the [[Oregon Territory]] and later the state of Oregon.<ref name="John Wesley Johnson">{{cite web |last1=Oregon State EDU |url=http://scarc.library.oregonstate.edu/chronology/chron_1850.html |title=1850-1859 OSU Libraries - University Archives, Chronological History|website=oregonstateedu.com |publisher=OSU |access-date=14 January 2021}}</ref> To further his education, Johnson applied to [[Yale University]]. However, the cost to attend the prestigious school was too expensive and he alone did not have the means to pay for the education. At 24-years-old he secured a loan to cover his tuition and set out by ship for the Eastern Seaboard.<ref name=Oregon/> The voyage took him South along the Pacific Coast to [[Panama]], where he hiked 10 miles inland to board the newly constructed Isthmus of [[Panama Canal Railway|Panama Railroad]]. During the trip, he fell ill and later reported the physical cost of the trip was so severe he was unable to enlist as a soldier during the civil war. Upon reaching the Eastern shore, he voyaged North by ship to [[New York City]].<ref name=Oregon/> WIthin two years, Johnson received his law degree - ranking sixth out of 100 in his graduating class.<ref name=Oregon/> Johnson returned to Oregon, initially to practice law, in 1862. However, the demand for highly educated instructors and administrators at local colleges and universities was greater at the time. Johnson wound up serving as a teacher and administrator at [[Linfield College|McMinnville College]] (now Linfield College) from 1863 to 1867. He was eventually promoted to president. He left Linfield College to work as principal of [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]] High School and remained there for six years.<ref>{{cite book | last = Sheldon | first = Henry D. | author-link = Henry Davidson Sheldon | title = History of the University of Oregon | publisher = [[Binfords & Mort]] | year = 1940 | location = [[Portland, Oregon]] | pages = 45 }}</ref> In 1873, Johnson was hired by the University of Oregon (known then as Oregon State University) as a Latin professor. On July 26, 1876, the [[University of Oregon Board of Regents]] met (immediately upon the state land board's official acceptance of [[Deady Hall]]) and elected Johnson the school's first president. [[Thomas Condon]], [[Mary Spiller]] and Mark Bailey were also elected to the faculty that day.<ref>{{cite book | last = Sheldon | first = Henry D. | author-link = Henry Davidson Sheldon | title = History of the University of Oregon | publisher = Binfords & Mort | year = 1940 | location = [[Portland, Oregon]] | pages = 41 }}</ref> ==University of Oregon== During his [[tenure]] at the [[University of Oregon]], Johnson taught [[Greek language|Greek]] and [[Latin]]. He served not only as president, but as [[Registrar (education)|registrar]], business officer, [[Provost (education)|provost]], [[dean of students]] and secretary. His 17 years as president helped foster great expansion at the Eugene school, including the construction of [[Villard Hall]] in 1886 and the dormitory (now [[Friendly Hall]]) in 1893. Throughout his career, Johnson was a statewide advocate for higher education in Oregon and overcame many objections by residents and state leaders to public support of local colleges and universities. Johnson passed away while still serving as president in 1853. ==Legacy== In 1918, the Administration Building (completed in 1915) was renamed [[Johnson Hall (University of Oregon)|Johnson Hall]] in honor of John Wesley Johnson. In 1985, the building was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070429033502/http://president.uoregon.edu/history/history.shtml Official History Site] - at the University of Oregon President's Office ==Further reading== *{{cite book | last = Sheldon | first = Henry D. | author-link = Henry Davidson Sheldon | title = History of University of Oregon | publisher = Binfords & Mort | year = 1940 | location = [[Portland, Oregon]] }} {{University of Oregon presidents}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, John Wesley}} [[Category:Yale University alumni]] [[Category:Presidents of the University of Oregon]] [[Category:Linfield University people]] [[Category:Oregon pioneers]] [[Category:1898 deaths]] [[Category:1836 births]]'