Wheelock, John , 1754-1817
Biography
John Wheelock was born on January 28, 1754, in Lebanon, Conn.He was the eldest son of Eleazar Wheelock who was the founder and first president of Dartmouth College; John Wheelock succeeded his father as the College’s second president.
Wheelock began his higher education at Yale, then followed his father to Hanover, NH when his father founded Dartmouth and completed his studies there, where he was a member of the College’s inaugural graduating class in 1771.
In 1776, Wheelock became a leader of the United Committees, a group of disgruntled New Hampshire citizens angry at their lack of representation in the state legislature and the distance of the state capital; in retaliation for these slights, Wheelock and others led twelve New Hampshire towns to secede from the state and attempt to join Vermont. The next year, 1777, as the Revolutionary War raged, Wheelock briefly served in New York and Vermont as a lieutenant colonel in Colonel Bedel's Regiment.
Upon his father's death in 1779, John Wheelock assumed the presidency of the College, despite the fact that he was neither an academic nor a minister.
During his almost forty years as Dartmouth's president (1779–1815), Wheelock oversaw the construction of Dartmouth Hall and the founding of Dartmouth Medical School, the fourth-oldest medical school in the country; he also maintained the College’s fiscal solvency throughout the Revolutionary War, mainly through the Vermont legislature’s grant of 23,000 acres (93 km²) in Wheelock, Vermont.
During the latter half of Wheelock's tenure, he became embroiled in a dispute with Dartmouth’s Board of Trustees. Wheelock proceeded to convince the governor of New Hampshire to fill the Board with supporters and turn Dartmouth College into a state-controlled Dartmouth University. The original, private Board resisted and eventually sued. The case, Dartmouth College v. Woodward, went through various judicial courts, before the United States Supreme Court decided in the Board's favor in 1819, the result of a brilliant peroration by Dartmouth alumnus Daniel Webster, class of 1801, who had, ironically, graduated under Wheelock's tenure. However, by this time, Wheelock, who had been forced out of the presidency in 1815 by failing health and poor relations with the Board, had died.
Found in 673 Collections and/or Records:
John Wheelock to David McClure
Two page letter from John Wheelock of Dartmouth College to David McClure, writer tells of a journey to Connecticut, calling on Pomeroy; hopes the fever is abating. Lt. Strong would like to move into "this country" Mentions "Sister Patten."
John Wheelock to David McClure
John Wheelock, Dartmouth College, is sending extract from proceedings of the Commissioners of the Scotch society in 1789(?) Four Indian Youths of St. Francis tribe are in college. College has no special fund for charity students. His father never kept a diary. To David MMcClure, East Windsor, Connecticut.
John Wheelock to David McClure
Letter from J. Wheelock of Dartmouth College to David McClure the trouble over the Landaff property.
John Wheelock to David McClure
Letter from John Wheelock of Dartmouth College to D. McClure he hopes for liberal subscriptions in his district for the proposed edifice.
John Wheelock to David McClure
Two page letter from J. Wheelock of Dartmouth College to D. McClure. Mr. Morris at Philadelphia will pay him $100 Mexican for Rev. Huntington. He has a letter from Messre. Willinks, Van Stephorst, and De LaLande of Amsterdam informing him of 457 florins in their hands for the School; they desire Mr. Morris to remit the sum to him.
John Wheelock to David McClure
Letter from J. Wheelock, President a recommendation
John Wheelock to David McClure
Three page letter from J. Wheelock of Dartmouth College to David McClure, telling him that college affairs are prospering except at Landaff. The foundations of the new building to be finished in 6 weeks. Hopes he will be present at Commencement in Sept.
John Wheelock to David McClure
Personal letter from J. Wheelock of Dartmouth College to David McClure.
John Wheelock to David McClure
Two-page letter from John Wheelock at Dartmouth College to David McClure, telling him that the Trustees are pleased with themanuscript of his "Memoirs of Wheelock," and have arranged to have subscriptions for it taken. The new "chymical" apparatus arrived from London. The Library has had donations, and now amounts of 6000 volumes.
John Wheelock to David McClure
Three page letter from J. Wheelock of Dartmouth College to David McClure, telling him that Gen. Moulton's estate is rendered insolvent, and the College may not be able to get the land subscribed by him: asks for all the particulars which Macclure remembers of the case
John Wheelock to David McClure
Two page letter from Pres. J. Wheelock of Dartmouth College to D. McClure, recommending a Mr. Jackson as a teacher. The degree of Doctor of Physic has been conferred on Mr. Tudor.
John Wheelock to David McClure
Personal letter from J. Wheelock to David McClure.
John Wheelock to David McClure
Letter from John Wheelock at Dartmouth College to David McClure, telling him that the Canadian boys in Deacon Ely's charge cannot be supported by the school now for lack of funds. More material is being collected for the Memoirs of Eleazar Wheelock.
John Wheelock to David McClure
Two-page letter from John Wheelock at Dartmouth College to David McClure, telling him that his policy is not aggressive and mentions Prof. Shurtleff and Prof. Hubbard.
John Wheelock to David McClure
Three-page letter from John Wheelock at Dartmouth College to David McClure, telling him that there are 3 Indian youths in Moor's School and about 150 students in College. The State Legislature has given a township near the Canada line and there is trouble with Vermont over the township in that state.
John Wheelock to David McClure
Three page letter from John Wheelock of Dartmouth College to David McClure, Trustee, informing him of the power of conferring doctorates of medicine in Europe and America. The General Assembly of the State will sit here next June. Dr. Thacher and Mr. Mason sent to Hanover by the Boston Board to investigate the state of the college for the Society in Scotland.
John Wheelock to David McClure
Two-page letter from John Wheelock at Dartmouth College to David McClure informing him that he is much pleased with the biography of his father [Eleazar Wheelock] and that the church disputes are not yet settled. The Presbytery to sit here this week.
John Wheelock to David McClure
Letter from John Wheelock of Dartmouth College to (D. McClure), informing him of the good progress of Capt. Brant's two sons. Greetings to friends.
John Wheelock to David McClure
Letter from John Wheelock of Dartmouth College to D. McClure inclosing a resolution of the trustees.
John Wheelock to David McClure
Letter from John Wheelock of Dartmouth College to D. McClure with his epitaph for Eleazar Wheelock's monument. Objections abroad to the incorporation of the School with the College.
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