Woodrow Wilson was born on December 28, 1856, in Staunton, Virginia. His father, Joseph Ruggles Wilson, was a Presbyterian Minister. Along with Wilson's mother, Janet “Jessie” Woodrow, Joseph soon moved their family to Augusta, Georgia. Wilson was a sickly youth and was taught at home by his parents. He started attending school at the age of twelve. In 1873, he went to Davidson College but soon dropped out due to health issues.

Wilson entered the College of New Jersey (now called Princeton) in 1875 and graduated in 1879. He studied law and was admitted to the Georgia bar in 1882. However, he was not interested in law but instead decided to go back to school to become an educator. He earned a Ph.D. in political science from Johns Hopkins University making him the only president to earn a doctorate.