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Sir William Peterson

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

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"SIR WILLIAM PETERSON (1856-1921), British educationalist, was born at Edinburgh May 29 1856, the son of John Peterson, a merchant. He was educated at Edinburgh high school and University, and after being for a short time at Göttingen, in 1876 obtained the Ferguson classical scholarship and entered Corpus Christi College, Oxford. On leaving Oxford he was at first an assistant master at Harrow, but in 1879 became assistant pro fessor of classics at Edinburgh. In 1882 he was made first principal of the newly founded University College at Dundee, but in 1895 he was appointed principal and professor of classics at McGill University, Canada. During his 24 years' tenure of this important position the university greatly progressed, and the scientific faculties in particular advanced considerably. In 1915 he was made K.C.M.G. In 1919 he was incapacitated by a stroke, and resigned his position, and being taken to England died at Hampstead Jan. 4 1921.

Sir William Peterson was for some years chairman of the Carnegie foundation for the advancement of teaching in America. His published works include editions of Quintilian's Institutes of Oratory (1891); the Dialogue on Orators of Tacitus (1893 and 1914); the Speech of Cicero for Cluentius (1895 and 1899); the Cluni MS. of Cicero (1901) and Cicero's Verrine Orations (1907); besides Canadian Essays and Addresses (1915).