Biography of John Houston

John Houston attended the University in 1761. He was born in Pequea Valley, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in 1743, son of John, a merchant and landowner who had emigrated to Delaware in 1735 before landing in Pennsylvania.

Houston enrolled at the University of Glasgow in 1761 to study an Arts course. He attended the Logic Class of Professor James Clow, Adam Smith's successor to the position of Professor of Logic in 1752.

Houston returned to America where he graduated from the Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1769, and served in the Revolutionary Army as a surgeon for seven years. In 1790, Houston was appointed a Justice for Hempfield Township, Lancaster County. He died in Wrightville, Pennsylvania on 5 June 1809.

The Dr John Houston Class of 1769 room at the University of Pennsylvania is named after him, and his grandson, Henry Howard Houston, also founded the Howard Houston Hall on the grounds of the same University.

Sources

Other Online Resources

• Catalogue of graduates for the University of Pennsylvania
• H. H. Houston Estate Papers 1895-1964, PA State Archives

Archival Materials

• W Innes Addison, The Matriculation Albums of the University of Glasgow 1728-1758

Summary

John Houston
Born 1743.
Died 5 June 1809.
GU Degree: Arts, 1761;
University Link: Student
Occupation categories: physicians
English snippet: Arts student at the University of Glasgow
Record last updated: 22nd Mar 2013

Country Associations

United States, Pennsylvania, Lancaster County
Place of Birth

United States, Pennsylvania, York County
Place of Death

University Connections

University Roles

• Student