Service to Knox College

Jonathan met Hiram Kellog when traveling to London for the World's Antislavery Convention. Kellogg was then serving as  President of Knox College. Kellogg wished to resign as soon as a successor could be found. Upon the return of the delegation to the United States in 1844, Knox began to court Jonathan for the presidency. Kellogg had nominated Jonathan as the only candidate. The college was in debt and operating five dollars a day behind.