History of Birmingham, (Jefferson County) Alabama United States of America

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Biographies:

John Newton Waddel - A Biography

John Newton Waddel, educator, was born in Willington, S.C., April 2, 1812; youngest son of the Rev. Moses and Elizabeth W. (Pleasants) Waddel. He prepared for college at his father's celebrated school at Willington, and was graduated at the University of Georgia, A.B., 1829, A.M., 1832. He taught the academy at Willington, 1830-34; conducted an academy at Montrose, Miss., 1842-48, and served as a trustee of the University of Mississippi, 1844-48. He was professor of ancient languages in the University of Mississippi, 1848-56; professor of ancient languages in La Grange Synodical college, 1857-60; president of the college, 1860-62; commissioner from the Presbyterian synod to the Confederate army west of the Mississippi, 1863-64; chancellor of the University of Mississippi, 1865-74; secretary of the board of education of the Southern Presbyterian church, 1874-88, and chancellor of the Southwestern Presbyterian university, Clarksville, Tenn., 1879-88, resigning in 1888 on account of advanced age. He joined the Presbyterian church in 1839; was licensed to preach by the presbytery of Mississippi Sept. 5, 1841, and ordained by the presbytery of Tombigbee, Sept. 23, 1843. He preached in Mississippi, 1841-74; was moderator of the General Assembly at Baltimore, Md., 1868; and was pastor at Memphis, Tenn., 1874-79. He was instrumental in founding the Confederate Orphan Asylum at Tuskegee, Ala. He received the honorary degree of D.D. from the University of Nashville in 1851, and that of LL.D. from the University of Georgia in 1873. A portrait of Chancellor Waddel was unveiled in the Southwestern Presbyterian university, June 6, 1888. He died in Birmingham, Ala., Jan. 9, 1895.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor