John McMillan (pastor)
Encyclopedia
John McMillan was a prominent Presbyterian minister and missionary in Western Pennsylvania
when that area was part of the American Frontier. He founded the first school west of the Allegheny Mountains
, which is now known as John McMillan's Log School
. He is one of the founders of Washington & Jefferson College
. His Scots-Irish parents arrived in Chester County
from County Antrim
, Ireland
in 1742. McMillan attended grammar aschool in Fagg's Manor and studied theology at Pequea Academy. He entered Princeton at 18 and graduated in 1772. It was Princeton that he declared "that the divine law was not only holy and just but that it was also good and that conformity to it would make me happy."
He was licensed to at age 22 in East Nottingham, Pennsylvania
under the Presbytery of Newcastle. He traveled west on foot in 1775, preaching along the way. In 1776 he married Catherine Brown of Chester County. He founded Pigeon Creek Church, where he served for 19 years, Chartiers Church, where he served for 47 years and 8 years with Matthew Brown
.
Amid the Revolutionary War
and attacks from local Indians
, McMillan moved his wife and their first child to a cabin on Shanon Run, the east branch of Chartiers Creek
in Washington County, Pennsylvania
. McMillan began teaching Greek and Latin to students in his log cabin, eventually graduating several prominent frontier ministers, including James McGready, William Swann, Samuel Porter, and Thomas Marquis. The precise date of the beginning of instruction is unknown.
McMillan was described as large man, with a height of 6 foot and weighing 200 pounds in his middle age. His voice was described as strong and "swarthy". He was a Federalist and opposed the Whiskey Rebellion
. He nominated Albert Gallatin
for congress. Gallatin's successor, James Ross was a classical teacher at McMillan's log college. McMillan served in the militia in Captain James Scott's Company of the Third Battalion of the Washington County Military. He was ordered to duty on May 8, 1782 and received "donation farm" in Mercer County
from the government for his service. He was related to Captain William Fife who was a Captain during the Revolutionary War from western Pennsylvania.
McMillan and Rev. Matthew Henderson collected money to build the Canonsburg Academy in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
and transferred his log cabin students there. He is also considered a founder of the Pittsburgh Academy (later University of Pittsburgh
as well as the Pittsburgh Xenia Theological Seminary and the Western Theological Seminary. All told, he educated over 100 ministers and preached 6,000 sermons. James Carnahan
, President of Princeton University
, said that he had aided church and education "more than any other man of his generation."
Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania consists of the western third of the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. Pittsburgh is the largest city in the region, with a metropolitan area population of about 2.4 million people, and serves as its economic and cultural center. Erie, Altoona, and Johnstown are its...
when that area was part of the American Frontier. He founded the first school west of the Allegheny Mountains
Allegheny Mountains
The Allegheny Mountain Range , also spelled Alleghany, Allegany and, informally, the Alleghenies, is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the eastern United States and Canada...
, which is now known as John McMillan's Log School
John McMillan's Log School
John McMillan's Log School is a landmark log building in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania that was the site of John McMillan's frontier latin school during the 1780s. It is a symbol of Canonsburg and Canonsburg's educational tradition...
. He is one of the founders of Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
Biography
McMillan was born on November 11, 1752 in Fagg's Manor, Chester County, PennsylvaniaWest Fallowfield Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania
West Fallowfield Township is a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,566 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
. His Scots-Irish parents arrived in Chester County
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
from County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
in 1742. McMillan attended grammar aschool in Fagg's Manor and studied theology at Pequea Academy. He entered Princeton at 18 and graduated in 1772. It was Princeton that he declared "that the divine law was not only holy and just but that it was also good and that conformity to it would make me happy."
He was licensed to at age 22 in East Nottingham, Pennsylvania
East Nottingham Township, Pennsylvania
East Nottingham Township is a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,650 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
under the Presbytery of Newcastle. He traveled west on foot in 1775, preaching along the way. In 1776 he married Catherine Brown of Chester County. He founded Pigeon Creek Church, where he served for 19 years, Chartiers Church, where he served for 47 years and 8 years with Matthew Brown
Matthew Brown (college president)
Matthew Brown was a prominent Presbyterian minister and president of Washington College and Jefferson College. Next to John McMillan, Brown was the most important figure to education in Western Pennsylvania....
.
Amid the Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
and attacks from local Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, McMillan moved his wife and their first child to a cabin on Shanon Run, the east branch of Chartiers Creek
Chartiers Creek
Chartiers Creek is a tributary of the Ohio River in Western Pennsylvania in the United States. The creek was named after Pierre Chartiers, a trapper of French and Native American parentage who established a trading post at the mouth of the creek in 1743....
in Washington County, Pennsylvania
Washington County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482...
. McMillan began teaching Greek and Latin to students in his log cabin, eventually graduating several prominent frontier ministers, including James McGready, William Swann, Samuel Porter, and Thomas Marquis. The precise date of the beginning of instruction is unknown.
McMillan was described as large man, with a height of 6 foot and weighing 200 pounds in his middle age. His voice was described as strong and "swarthy". He was a Federalist and opposed the Whiskey Rebellion
Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion, or Whiskey Insurrection, was a tax protest in the United States in the 1790s, during the presidency of George Washington. Farmers who sold their corn in the form of whiskey had to pay a new tax which they strongly resented...
. He nominated Albert Gallatin
Albert Gallatin
Abraham Alfonse Albert Gallatin was a Swiss-American ethnologist, linguist, politician, diplomat, congressman, and the longest-serving United States Secretary of the Treasury. In 1831, he founded the University of the City of New York...
for congress. Gallatin's successor, James Ross was a classical teacher at McMillan's log college. McMillan served in the militia in Captain James Scott's Company of the Third Battalion of the Washington County Military. He was ordered to duty on May 8, 1782 and received "donation farm" in Mercer County
Mercer County, Pennsylvania
Mercer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 116,638. Its county seat is Mercer; Sharon is its largest city....
from the government for his service. He was related to Captain William Fife who was a Captain during the Revolutionary War from western Pennsylvania.
McMillan and Rev. Matthew Henderson collected money to build the Canonsburg Academy in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Canonsburg is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, southwest of Pittsburgh. Canonsburg was laid out by Colonel John Canon in 1789 and incorporated in 1802....
and transferred his log cabin students there. He is also considered a founder of the Pittsburgh Academy (later University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
as well as the Pittsburgh Xenia Theological Seminary and the Western Theological Seminary. All told, he educated over 100 ministers and preached 6,000 sermons. James Carnahan
James Carnahan
James Carnahan was an American clergyman and educator who served as the ninth President of Princeton University....
, President of Princeton University
President of Princeton University
Princeton University is led by a President selected by the Board of Trustees. Until the accession of Woodrow Wilson, a political scientist, in 1902, they were all clergymen, as well as professors. President Tilghman is a biologist; her two predecessors were economists.-Presidents:# Reverend...
, said that he had aided church and education "more than any other man of his generation."
See also
- McMillan Hall (Washington & Jefferson College)McMillan Hall (Washington & Jefferson College)McMillan Hall is a building on the campus of Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania, United States. Built in 1793, it is the only surviving building from Washington Academy...
- John McMillan's Log SchoolJohn McMillan's Log SchoolJohn McMillan's Log School is a landmark log building in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania that was the site of John McMillan's frontier latin school during the 1780s. It is a symbol of Canonsburg and Canonsburg's educational tradition...