OliviaMarie91

My name is Olivia and am a Child Life major. I really enjoy volunteering. I recently spent a week at Give Kids the World in Florida. I enjoy spending time with my family and traveling to new places. I enjoy reading about pop culture and keeping up with the news. I am currently on here for my junior english composition class and plan on working on some topics that relate to Ohio University.

Pre-Presidency

Robert Wilson was born in Lincoln County, North Carolina on December 30, 1768. He was the son of John and Mary (Wray) Wilson. In 1790, he received his baccalaureate degree in education from Dickson College in Carlisle, PA. Soon after, Wilson was ordained and became a pastor. He accepted a job as pastor with the salary of only 400 dollars. During this time, he was then offered a professorship at the University of South Carolina and then a principalship at an academy in August, Georgia. He declined both. In 1805, he relocated to Ohio where he became a pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Chillicothe. After taking the job, he then taught at the Chillicothe Academy.

Presidency

In 1809, Wilson was chosen trustee of Ohio University and served until 1819. He was the first Ohio University president to be trustee first. Princeton University then gave him an honorary D.D. degree in 1818. Robert Wilson became the third president of Ohio University in 1824. At the age 70, he retired from Ohio University.

High Points of Presidency

• Robert Wilson repaired the College Edifice and equipped a room on the second floor of that building for a library (now Chubb Hall).
• During presidency, financial difficulties and fluctuating enrollment were his problems.
• In 1836, construction started on the East (Wilson Hall) and West (McGuffy Hall) Wings.
• In April of 1837, the East Wing completed and in 1839, the West Wing was completed.
• The first state aid for teachers' course was obtained in Wilson's administration, but by assuming some of the financial responsibility for a model school housed on the third floor of the College Edifice.

Post-Presidency

After Wilson retired from presidency at Ohio University, he then continued his ministry in South Salem, Ohio until his death in 1851. He was buried in Chillicothe, Ohio. His wife and son, Samuel, is buried in the cemetary on West State Street, Athens, Ohio.

John Newton Templeton

John Templeton was the first African American to graduate from Ohio University in 1828. Robert Wilson was responsible for providing him a place to stay while attending the university. Templeton was freed from being a slave in 1813. Following this, he and his family then were advised to move to Adams County, Ohio by the man who freed them. Robert Wilson was able to meet Templeton when he arrived. The two of them became friendly by having an very common view on religion. He suggested that Templeton attend Ohio University, where unlike other universities, there were no restrictive clauses to race. Templeton was fully qualified and enrolled at the university. While attending school, he resided in Wilson's home and acted as a family servant. He was provided with room and board as well as a small salary in order to pay for classes. Templeton majored in education and was an active member of the Athenian Literary Society. When he graduated, Templeton was the first African American to receive a college degree in Ohio and the entire area encompassing the old northwestern territory. He was the fourth black graduate on a national scale. In 1915, a substantial contribution for the construction of the Alumni Gate was made in honor of Templeton.