John Bascom
Encyclopedia
John Bascom 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. Besides the degrees he got 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 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.
Bascom Hill
and Bascom Hall on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison are both named for him.
Genoa, New York
Genoa is a town in Cayuga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,935 at the 2010 census.The Town of Genoa is located in the southwest corner of the county and is north of Ithaca, New York...
and was a graduate of Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
with the class of 1849. He graduated from the Andover Theological Seminary in 1855. Besides the degrees he got in those places, he held many other scholarly and honorary degrees. He was professor of rhetoric
Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. As a subject of formal study and a productive civic practice, rhetoric has played a central role in the Western...
at Williams College from 1855 to 1874, and was president of the University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
from 1874 to 1887. He died in Williamstown, Massachusetts
Williamstown, Massachusetts
Williamstown is a town in Berkshire County, in the northwest corner of Massachusetts. It shares a border with Vermont to the north and New York to the west. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,754 at the 2010 census...
, 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.
Robert M. La Follette, Sr.
Robert Marion "Fighting Bob" La Follette, Sr. , was an American Republican politician. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, was the Governor of Wisconsin, and was also a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin...
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
Florence Bascom
Florence Bascom was the first woman hired by the United States Geological Survey. She was of Huguenot and Basque ancestry....
, all graduated from the University of Wisconsin.
Bascom Hill
Bascom Hill
Bascom Hill is the main quadrangle that forms the symbolic core of the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. It is located on the opposite end of State Street from the Wisconsin State Capitol, and is named after John Bascom, former president of the University of Wisconsin...
and Bascom Hall on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison are both named for him.
See also
- List of French Americans, famous people of French descent
- Famous people with Huguenot ancestry
Relatives of note
- Jedediah S. SmithJedediah SmithJedediah Strong Smith was a hunter, trapper, fur trader, trailblazer, author, cartographer, cattleman, and explorer of the Rocky Mountains, the American West Coast and the Southwest during the 19th century...
, American explorer, mountain man - Wolfe Tone, hero of Ireland
- Henry Bidleman BascomHenry Bidleman BascomHenry Bidleman Bascom was an American Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, elected in 1850. He also distinguished himself as a Circuit rider, pastor and Christian preacher; as chaplain to the U.S...
, Congressional Chaplain 1824-26 - George Nicholas BascomGeorge Nicholas BascomGeorge Nicholas Bascom U. S. Army officer, in Arizona and in the American Civil War.George N. Bascom was born in Owingsville in Bath County, Kentucky. Bascom was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point, and graduated 26th in a class of27 in 1858...
, army officer of Apache Wars - Jehiel Tone and I.E. Tone, founders of world's largest spice company
- Frederic S. RemingtonFrederic RemingtonFrederic Sackrider Remington was an American painter, illustrator, sculptor, and writer who specialized in depictions of the Old American West, specifically concentrating on the last quarter of the 19th century American West and images of cowboys, American Indians, and the U. S...
, western artist and sculptor - Florence BascomFlorence BascomFlorence Bascom was the first woman hired by the United States Geological Survey. She was of Huguenot and Basque ancestry....
, America's first female geologist - Fred Tone, automobile engineer/designer of American Underslung of 1911
- Bryant Butler BrooksBryant Butler BrooksBryant Butler Brooks was an American businessman, rancher and politician. He was the seventh Governor of Wyoming from January 2, 1905 until January 2, 1911....
, cowboy, rancher and Governor of Wyoming 1905-1911 - Earl W. BascomEarl W. BascomEarl W. Bascom was an American painter, printmaker, rodeo performer and sculptor, raised in Canada, who portrayed his own experiences cowboying and rodeoing across the American and Canadian West.- Childhood :...
, rodeo pioneer and cowboy artist/sculptor - Willard BascomWillard BascomWillard Bascom , was an engineer and scientist, who first proposed using Neoprene for wetsuits to fellow scientist Hugh Bradner. He also proposed the hypothesis that anoxic water in the Black Sea could have preserved ancient Black Sea shipwrecks...
, oceanographer - Franchot ToneFranchot ToneFranchot Tone was an American stage, film, and television actor, star of Mutiny on the Bounty and many other films through the 1960s...
, actor
Books and articles
Many of these are in the public domain and fully viewable at Google Books.- An Appeal To Young Men On The Use Of Tobacco (1850)
- Philosophy Of Rhetoric (1866)
- The Principles Of Psychology (1869)
- Aesthetics (1871)
- Science, Philosophy And Religion (1871); (1872)
- Philosophy Of English Literature (1874)
- Education And The State (1877)
- Comparative Psychology (1878)
- Ethics (1879)
- Natural Theology (1880)
- The Science Of Mind (1881)
- The Lawyer And The Lawyer's Questions (1882)
- Problems In Philosophy (1885)
- Prohibition And Common Sense (1885)
- Sociology (1887)
- The New Theology (1891)
- Address Before The YMCA Of The Mass. Agricultural College (1892)
- An Historical Interpretation Of Philosophy (1893)
- Social Theory (1895)
- Evolution And Religion (1897)
- The Goodness Of God (1901)
- The Remedies Of Trusts (1901)
- Things Learned By Living (1913)
- Sermons And Addresses (1913)