caption laterwork branch death_date death_place religion birth_place unit battles birth_date placeofburial rank image article_title name
j. 1855 photo . t. l. preston . 1907 portrait based on founder and faculty member , virginia military institute virginia militia confederate states army 15 july 1890 lexington , virginia presbyterian lexington , virginia virginia military institute 9th virginia infantry american civil war 25 april 1811 stonewall jackson memorial cemetery lexington , virginia colonel -rrb- -lrb- virginia militia -rrb- lieutenant colonel -lrb- csa john thomas lewis preston -lrb- vmi -rrb- . jpg john thomas lewis preston
 john thomas lewis preston
john thomas lewis preston

john thomas lewis preston -lrb- april 25 , 1811 -- july 15 , 1890 -rrb- was an american educator and military officer from virginia .
he was a primary founder and organizer of the virginia military institute , and was one of its first two faculty members .
he also served in the confederate military during the american civil war .
