Wilson, Woodrow

Wilson, Woodrow

Woodrow Wilson, 28th president of the United States (1913-21), secured a

legislative program of progressive domestic reform, guided his country

during WORLD WAR I, and sought a peace settlement based on high moral

principles, to be guaranteed by the LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Early Life and Career

Thomas Woodrow Wilson was born in Staunton, Va., on Dec. 28, 1856. He was

profoundly influenced by a devoutly religious household headed by his

father, Joseph Ruggles Wilson, a Presbyterian minister, and his mother,

Janet Woodrow Wilson, the daughter of a minister. Woodrow (he dropped the

Thomas in 1879) attended (1873-74) Davidson College and in 1875 entered the

College of New Jersey (later Princeton University), graduating in 1879.

Wilson studied (1879-80) at the University of Virginia Law School, briefly

practiced law in Atlanta, and in 1883 entered The Johns Hopkins University

for graduate study in political science. His widely acclaimed book,

Congressional Government (1885), was published a year before he received

the doctoral degree. In 1885 he married Ellen Louise Axson; they had three

daughters.

Wilson taught at Bryn Mawr College (1885-88) and Wesleyan University

in Connecticut (1888-90) before he was called (1890) to Princeton as

professor of jurisprudence and political economy. A popular lecturer,

Wilson also wrote a score of articles and nine books, including Division

and Reun...

Wilson, Woodrow

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