John Thomas Lewis Preston (April 25, 1811 – July 15, 1890) was an American educator and military officer from Virginia.

In 1836 Preston made the case to the society that the arsenal in Lexington could be put to better use as a normal school for providing education on practical subjects, as well as military training to individuals who could be expected to serve as officers in the militia if needed.

[9] After debate and revision of the original proposal, the Franklin Society voted in favor of Preston's concept.

After a public relations campaign that included Preston meeting in person with influential business, military and political figures, letters to the editor from Preston writing under a pen name, and letters to the editor and open letters from supporters including Norwich University founder Alden Partridge, in 1836 the Virginia legislature passed a bill authorizing creation of a normal school at the Lexington arsenal, and the Governor signed the measure into law.

[13] The board delegated to Preston the task of deciding what to call the new school, and he created the name Virginia Military Institute.

He was persuaded that West Point graduate and army officer Francis Henney Smith, then on the faculty at Hampden-Sydney College, was the most suitable candidate.

After Smith agreed to accept the superintendent's position, Preston applied to join the faculty, and was hired as Professor of Languages.

[19] According to contemporary accounts, it was Preston who broke the silence that followed Brown's death, declaring to the crowd "So perish all such enemies of Virginia!

Preston served with the 9th Virginia during various actions in the Shenandoah Valley, including time on the staff of and as aide-de-camp for Stonewall Jackson.

[24][25] For over 20 years before and after the Civil War Preston, Stonewall Jackson and others led a Sunday school for Lexington's African-Americans, both slaves and those who were free.