Jonathan Edwards (Washington & Jefferson College)

For other people with the same name, see Jonathan Edwards.

Jonathan Edwards
First President of Washington & Jefferson College
In office April 4, 1866 – April 20, 1869
Preceded by	John W. Scott (Washington College) David Hunter Riddle (Jefferson College)
Succeeded by	George P. Hays
President of Hanover College
In office 1855–1857
Preceded by	Thomas E. Thomas
Succeeded by	James Wood
Personal details
Born	July 19, 1817 Cincinnati, Ohio
Died	July 13, 1891(1891-07-13) (aged 73) Peoria, Illinois
Alma mater	Hanover College
Signature

Jonathan Edwards (1817–1891) was the first president of Washington & Jefferson College following the union of Washington College and Jefferson College.

Biography

Edwards was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on July 19, 1817. He graduated from Hanover College in 1835 and from Hanover's theological department in 1838. Edwards taught in Kentucky from 1838 to 1842 before becoming ordained clergy in the Presbyterian Church in 1844. He served as pastor at various churches in Ohio, Maryland, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Edwards served as the fifth president of Hanover College from 1855 through 1857.

On April 4, 1866, Edwards was elected as the first president of the newly unified Washington & Jefferson College. By the end of his presidency, the college was considering consolidating the two campuses, a direction Edwards supported. Edwards resigned the presidency of W&J on April 20, 1869 to accept a pastoral charge in Baltimore. He died in Peoria, Illinois on July 13, 1891.