John Watson was the first principal and president of and professor of moral philosophy at Jefferson College.
[1] He was a student of the school's founder, John McMillan, who was arranged for him to attend the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), from where he graduated in 1797.
[3] A frail and intense man, in sharp contrast with his mentor and father-in-law McMillan, Watson was elected to the Presidency of Jefferson College (now Washington & Jefferson College) on August 29, 1802.
Watson died on November 30, 1802, only three months after his ascension to the presidency and 2 days after the first Jefferson College diplomas were awarded.
[2] McMillan carried out his duties until the election of James Dunlap as the second president of Jefferson College.