John Bascom (May 1, 1827 – October 2, 1911) was an American professor, college president and writer.

Life

He was born on May 1, 1827, in Genoa, New York, and was a graduate of Williams College with the class of 1849. He graduated from the Andover Theological Seminary in 1855. Aside from the degrees he received in those places, he held many other scholarly and honorary degrees. He was professor of rhetoric at Williams College from 1855 to 1874, and was president of the University of Wisconsin from 1874 to 1887. He retired in 1903 and died in Williamstown, Massachusetts, on October 2, 1911. He was the author of some thirty or forty books. He said in his biography the books cost him more money than he ever received from their publication. But he also included that he was glad to have written them and is only sorry that he could not have been of more service to his fellow men. He greatly influenced Senator Robert M. La Follette, Sr. during the latter's time at the University of Wisconsin. In 1853, John married Abbie Burt, who died shortly thereafter. John then wed Emma Curtiss, to whom he was married for over fifty years. Their three children, Jean, George and Florence, all graduated from the University of Wisconsin.

Legacy and honors

Bascom Hill and Bascom Hall on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison are both named for him. Bascom House, the home of the Williams College Office of Admissions, is also named for Bascom. During World War II the Liberty ship SS John Bascom was built in Panama City, Florida, and named in his honor.

Relatives of note

Books and articles

Many of these are in the public domain and fully viewable at Google Books.