John S. Hougham

Who was John S. Hougham?

John Scherer Hougham, was Purdue University’s first appointed professor, first acting President after Purdue's first President Richard Dale Owen resigned on March 1, 1874, and later an official acting President between the administrations of Abraham C. Shortridge and Emerson E. White.

Hougham first graduated from Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana, in 1846, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He then rose to Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy at Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana. During this time he was also a well regarded maker of scientific instruments for educational and professional use in medicine, chemistry, astronomy, and other related fields.

After those appointments, he was Chairman of Philosophy and Agriculture at Kansas State University.