One of the influential educators in Canada is Dr. William Peterson,
President of that powerful and progressive educational institution,
McGill University. Dr. Peterson’s policy in the conduct of the
university is to maintain a harmonious relationship between classical
education and the scientific training which is now so greatly in
demand. That the university is kept well abreast of the times in
scientific teaching and equipment is indicated by the fact that a
recent addition to the institution has been a school for instruction
in all branches of railroading. Dr. Peterson keenly realizes that
the future development of Canada will depend in a very considerable
measure upon the extension of the Dominion’s railway system—that
in the railroad business there will, perhaps, be more and greater
opportunities for young Canadians than in any other one branch of
industry. Another proof of the scientific thoroughness at McGill is the
high standing held by the University’s medical and engineering schools,
but Dr. Peterson holds fast to the belief that no education is complete
without a familiarity with the classics. He is himself an accomplished
classical scholar.
After spending his boyhood in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, where he
was born in 1856, he became a student at the Edinburgh University, and
there distinguished himself. He won the Greek travelling fellowship,
and continued his classical study at the University of Göttingen.
Returning to Scotland, he was elected to the Mackenzie scholarship
in the University of Edinburgh and went to Oxford University, where
he added to his scholastic laurels. He became assistant Professor of
Humanity in Edinburgh University, and in 1882 was appointed Professor
of Classical and Ancient History and head of the faculty in University
College, Dundee. Here he remained until 1885, when he was chosen to
succeed Sir J. W. Dawson as Principal of McGill University, Montreal.
He has received honorary degrees from St. Andrews and Princeton
universities, and is regarded not only as a scholar of unusual
attainments, but as a man possessing in marked degree the executive
ability necessary to successfully conduct the affairs of a great
university.