James Alexander Gibson
Encyclopedia
James Alexander Gibson was a Canadian academic, federal bureaucrat and private secretary to prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King
.
Born in Ottawa
and raised in Victoria
, Gibson did his undergraduate studies at the University of British Columbia
. After winning a Rhodes Scholarship
, he earned his doctorate of philosophy from Oxford
. In 1938 he joined Canada's Department of External Affairs, but was recruited for the Prime Minister's Office in 1940 to be a speechwriter and protocol expert. Gibson accompanied Mackenzie King on several diplomatic missions — including his two wartime strategy sessions with the U.S. and British governments in Quebec City
— and in 1945 he was part of the Canadian delegation to the first United Nations
conference in San Francisco.
Gibson left the federal government in 1947 for a teaching position at Carleton College (later Carleton University
) in Ottawa. He spent 12 years as the school's dean of arts and science, and served for a year as interim president after the death of president Murdoch Maxwell MacOdrum
in 1955.
Gibson was appointed as the founding president of Brock University
in 1963, and held that office for 11 years before his retirement. The school's library was named in his honour.
William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...
.
Born in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and raised in Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, Gibson did his undergraduate studies at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
. After winning a Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
, he earned his doctorate of philosophy from Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. In 1938 he joined Canada's Department of External Affairs, but was recruited for the Prime Minister's Office in 1940 to be a speechwriter and protocol expert. Gibson accompanied Mackenzie King on several diplomatic missions — including his two wartime strategy sessions with the U.S. and British governments in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
— and in 1945 he was part of the Canadian delegation to the first United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
conference in San Francisco.
Gibson left the federal government in 1947 for a teaching position at Carleton College (later Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
) in Ottawa. He spent 12 years as the school's dean of arts and science, and served for a year as interim president after the death of president Murdoch Maxwell MacOdrum
Murdoch Maxwell MacOdrum
Murdoch Maxwell MacOdrum was the second president of Carleton College in Ottawa, Ontario.Born in Nova Scotia, MacOdrum got his B.A. from Dalhousie University in 1923, his MA in 1925 from McGill and a PhD in English from the University of Edinburgh...
in 1955.
Gibson was appointed as the founding president of Brock University
Brock University
Brock University is a comprehensive university located in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Brock offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs that include co-op and other experiential learning opportunities to an enrolment of over 17,000 full-time students.The enabling legislation is...
in 1963, and held that office for 11 years before his retirement. The school's library was named in his honour.