John Clough Holmes (September 25, 1809 – December 16, 1887) was an American agriculturalist, educator, and co-founder of the Michigan State Agricultural Society.
Holmes was keenly involved with the details of the Agricultural College, influencing everything from the purchase of land for the campus, layout of the buildings, and even the placement of the chairs and tables.
Born in Salem, Massachusetts, Holmes moved to Michigan in 1835, and gained employment in a Detroit merchant store.
Significantly, Holmes vehemently admonished that this college be independent of the University of Michigan for he "feared that agricultural studies would not receive the attention needed to survive and thrive" at those schools.
In June 1855, Holmes and the society's executive committee visited nine sites of offered land, including some near the present towns of Holt, Millett, DeWitt, and Haslett.
Eventually, Holmes wrote the proposal to purchase the 677 acres (274 ha) Burr farm, located three miles due east of the capitol.
"[6] The State Board of Education approved the site purchase in July 1855, but months later had proven unable to make any progress in deciding on basics for the college—including what buildings it might require.
Showing that no decision was small enough to escape his view, he is said to have "supervised the placing of chairs and tables in College Hall.
On February 2, 1858, the Horticulture Professorship was suspended, ostensibly for financial reasons (as well as the fact that the wild condition of the land hardly warranted a full-time horticulturalist as yet).
Some time in that year or the one following, he was appointed once again as Superintendent of Horticulture, guiding students in planting the college gardens and improving the grounds.
Professor William J. Beal called him "the most important agent" of the school, while President Abbot said, "To no one man is the College so much indebted as John Clough Holmes.