Downey, John F. (John Florin), 1846-

John Florin Downey, who served as a drummer boy with the Union forces in the Civil war, came to the University of Minnesota as professor of mathematics in 1880, and was Dean of the College of Science, Literature, and the Arts from 1903 until his retirement in 1915. From 1916 to 1919 he taught in universities at Nanking and Peking, China.

John Florin Downey was born on January 10, 1846 in Hiramsburg, Ohio. At the age of 18, he enlisted in the 11th Michigan Infantry to serve in the Civil War as a drummer-boy; serving until October 1895, earning the rank of Sergeant Major. He earned his B.S. degree in 1870 and M.S. in 1873 from Hillsdale College, Michigan. From 1873-1880, he was professor of mathematics at the State College of Pennsylvania (Penn State University). He joined the faculty at the University of Minnesota as professor of mathematics and astronomy in 1880 and was appointed as Dean of the College of Science, Literature, and the Arts in 1903, retiring in 1914. After his retirement from the University of Minnesota, Dean Downey taught at the University of Nanking (Jinling da xue) from 1916-1918 and at Peking University (Beijing da xue) in 1919 as professor of mathematics. Dean Downey passed away on April 28, 1939 at the age of 93.