Westel W. Willoughby
Encyclopedia
Westel Woodbury Willoughby (20 July 1867 – 25 March 1945), was an American
academic.
He was the twin brother to William F. Willoughby
. They were the sons of Westel Willoughby and Jennie Rebecca (Woodbury) Willoughby, their father having been a Major
in the Union Army
with the New York Volunteers
, injured at the Battle of Chancellorsville
. The elder Willoughby served on the Supreme Court of Appeals for Virginia
following the war and presided over the Custis case in which the land for Arlington National Cemetery
was awarded to the U.S. Government.
Westel Woodbury Willoughby graduated with an A.B.
from Johns Hopkins University
in the class of 1888, continued with graduate work and received his Ph.D from Hopkins in 1891 at a time when political science was not yet recognized as a separate discipline. His degree was awarded by the combined departments of history and economics.
On 27 June 1893, he was married to Grace Robinson, daughter of Franklin Marvin Robinson, a prominent lawyer of Dubuque, Iowa
. After practicing law for a few years with his father in Washington, D.C.
, Westel W. Willoughby responded to a call from Hopkins to join the faculty in 1898. He moved to Roland Park, Maryland along with his wife Grace and their two young children Westel Robinson Willoughby (Robinson) and Laura Robinson Willoughby.
At the urging of Professor Willoughby, Johns Hopkins created the first department of Political Science
under his leadership and with him as the only professor. He continued to lead this department until his retirement at the age of 65 in 1932. He helped to found the American Political Science Association
and served as its 10th President. Some have referred to him as the father of modern political science thanks to his prolific writing. He published many books over the span of his career at Hopkins. His first, entitled The Nature of the State was published in 1898. From there, he went on to establish himself as one of the foremost authorities on Constitutional Law and the workings of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Willoughby was invited as a guest lecturer to China
when he responded to a request from the Chinese Government in 1917 to assist as a Constitutional and Legal advisor for a period of one year. As a result of this work, he became a frequent advisor to the Chinese Government including the Washington Naval Conference
in 1921 and the two Opium Conferences in Geneva in 1924-1925 and again in 1931 where he also served as advisor to the Chinese delegation to the League of Nations. His numerous writings on China and Japan and their relationships prior to World War II are classics that are still used in education to this day. The Chinese Government awarded him the Order of Merit and the Order of the Golden Grain in appreciation for his contribution.
His wife Grace, predeceased him by nearly 30 years in 1907 when she died at the age of just 36 and was buried at Linwood Cemetery in her hometown of Dubuque. Thus, Dr. Willoughby was left a widower and single parent of two young children. He never remarried. Along with his brother William Franklin Willoughby, himself an accomplished economist and political scientist, he bought a small island called Endiang on Stoney Lake north of Toronto
in 1908 where he and his family spent their summers.
Dr. Willoughby continued to make his home in Baltimore
until his death on 25 March 1945.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
academic.
He was the twin brother to William F. Willoughby
William F. Willoughby
William Franklin Willoughby was an author of public administration texts including works on budgeting. He often worked with his twin brother, Westel W...
. They were the sons of Westel Willoughby and Jennie Rebecca (Woodbury) Willoughby, their father having been a Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
with the New York Volunteers
79th New York Volunteer Infantry
The 79th New York Volunteer Infantry was a military regiment organized on June 20, 1859 in the state of New York. Prior to the American Civil War it was one of the three regiments which formed the Fourth Brigade of the First Division of the New York State Militia. The Fourth Brigade included the...
, injured at the Battle of Chancellorsville
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville was a major battle of the American Civil War, and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville Campaign. It was fought from April 30 to May 6, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near the village of Chancellorsville. Two related battles were fought nearby on...
. The elder Willoughby served on the Supreme Court of Appeals for Virginia
Court of Appeals of Virginia
The Court of Appeals of Virginia, established January 1, 1985, is an eleven-judge body that hears appeals from decisions of Virginia's circuit courts and the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission. The Court sits in panels of at least three judges, and sometimes hears cases en banc...
following the war and presided over the Custis case in which the land for Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
was awarded to the U.S. Government.
Westel Woodbury Willoughby graduated with an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in the class of 1888, continued with graduate work and received his Ph.D from Hopkins in 1891 at a time when political science was not yet recognized as a separate discipline. His degree was awarded by the combined departments of history and economics.
On 27 June 1893, he was married to Grace Robinson, daughter of Franklin Marvin Robinson, a prominent lawyer of Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
. After practicing law for a few years with his father in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Westel W. Willoughby responded to a call from Hopkins to join the faculty in 1898. He moved to Roland Park, Maryland along with his wife Grace and their two young children Westel Robinson Willoughby (Robinson) and Laura Robinson Willoughby.
At the urging of Professor Willoughby, Johns Hopkins created the first department of Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
under his leadership and with him as the only professor. He continued to lead this department until his retirement at the age of 65 in 1932. He helped to found the American Political Science Association
American Political Science Association
The American Political Science Association is a professional association of political science students and scholars in the United States. Founded in 1903, it publishes three academic journals...
and served as its 10th President. Some have referred to him as the father of modern political science thanks to his prolific writing. He published many books over the span of his career at Hopkins. His first, entitled The Nature of the State was published in 1898. From there, he went on to establish himself as one of the foremost authorities on Constitutional Law and the workings of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Willoughby was invited as a guest lecturer to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
when he responded to a request from the Chinese Government in 1917 to assist as a Constitutional and Legal advisor for a period of one year. As a result of this work, he became a frequent advisor to the Chinese Government including the Washington Naval Conference
Washington Naval Conference
The Washington Naval Conference also called the Washington Arms Conference, was a military conference called by President Warren G. Harding and held in Washington from 12 November 1921 to 6 February 1922. Conducted outside the auspices of the League of Nations, it was attended by nine nations...
in 1921 and the two Opium Conferences in Geneva in 1924-1925 and again in 1931 where he also served as advisor to the Chinese delegation to the League of Nations. His numerous writings on China and Japan and their relationships prior to World War II are classics that are still used in education to this day. The Chinese Government awarded him the Order of Merit and the Order of the Golden Grain in appreciation for his contribution.
His wife Grace, predeceased him by nearly 30 years in 1907 when she died at the age of just 36 and was buried at Linwood Cemetery in her hometown of Dubuque. Thus, Dr. Willoughby was left a widower and single parent of two young children. He never remarried. Along with his brother William Franklin Willoughby, himself an accomplished economist and political scientist, he bought a small island called Endiang on Stoney Lake north of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in 1908 where he and his family spent their summers.
Dr. Willoughby continued to make his home in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
until his death on 25 March 1945.