Alexander Watt Williamson
Encyclopedia
Alexander Watt Williamson (1849-1928) in 1874 was the first person to receive a degree from a New Zealand
University. He received the first and only degree issued by the University of Otago
before it merged into the University of New Zealand
(which in 1961 was dissolved into four independent universities and two associated agricultural colleges). Later in 1876 Alexander was reissued a Bachelor of Arts
degree certificate from the University of New Zealand
.
In 1948 his certificate was returned to the University of Otago where it was hung in the Board Room of the University in Dunedin
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
University. He received the first and only degree issued by the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
before it merged into the University of New Zealand
University of New Zealand
The University of New Zealand was the New Zealand university from 1870 to 1961. It was the sole New Zealand university, having a federal structure embracing several constituent colleges at various locations around New Zealand...
(which in 1961 was dissolved into four independent universities and two associated agricultural colleges). Later in 1876 Alexander was reissued a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree certificate from the University of New Zealand
University of New Zealand
The University of New Zealand was the New Zealand university from 1870 to 1961. It was the sole New Zealand university, having a federal structure embracing several constituent colleges at various locations around New Zealand...
.
In 1948 his certificate was returned to the University of Otago where it was hung in the Board Room of the University in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
.