John Whelan Sterling
John W. Sterling | |
|---|---|
John W. Sterling | |
| Born | July 17, 1816 |
| Died | March 9, 1885 (aged 68) |
| Occupation(s) | Professor and university administrator |
| Known for | Nurturing the University of Wisconsin in its formative years. |
John Whelan Sterling (July 17, 1816 – March 9, 1885) was a pioneer faculty member of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. When the first university chancellor John Hiram Lathrop opened the school in 1849, he and Sterling were the only two professors. As an early faculty member and in his capacity as dean of faculty and vice chancellor from 1861 to 1867, Sterling was often called the "father of the university".