John Bascom (May 1, 1827October 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 was built in Panama City, Florida, and named in his honor. See also List of French Americans, famous people of French descent Famous people with Huguenot ancestry Relatives of note Earl W. Bascom, cowboy artist/sculptor, rodeo pioneer, "Father of Modern Rodeo" Florence Bascom, America's first female geologist George Nicholas Bascom, army officer of Apache Wars Henry Bidleman Bascom, Congressional Chaplain 1824-26 John U. Bascom, American surgeon Willard Bascom, oceanographer Bryant Butler Brooks, cowboy, rancher and Governor of Wyoming 1905-1911 Frederic S. Remington, western artist and sculptor, "Father of Cowboy Sculpture" Jedediah S. Smith, American explorer, mountain man Franchot Tone, American actor Wolfe Tone, "Father of Irish Republicanism" S. Dilworth Young, American religious leader 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)