John Macmillan Brown
Encyclopedia
John Macmillan Brown was a Scottish
-New Zealand
academic, administrator and promoter of education for women.
Brown was born in Irvine
, the sixth child of Ann Brown and her husband, James Brown, a sea captain. John was raised in a family that placed high value on education—for both sexes. He attended Irvine Academy, then University of Edinburgh
and University of Glasgow
. He declined a Balliol scholarship in mathematics instead taking a Snell exhibition for Classics and philosophy.
In 1874 he was selected as professor
of Classics and English, one of three foundation chairs at the newly established Canterbury College
in Christchurch
, then part of the University of New Zealand
. In his new role, he worked 16 hours a day, covering English literature and composition, Latin and Greek; inspecting secondary schools and examining for teachers' certificates. After a professor of classics was appointed in 1879, he took on history and political economy.
Under his patronage Canterbury College admitted Helen Connon
as a matriculated student in 1876, the first Australasian university institution to admit women to degree classes on an equal basis with men. Connon was second woman in the British Empire to graduate BA and the first to receive a degree with honours. Brown and Connon married on 9 December 1886. They had two children including Millicent Amiel, who later married Archibald Baxter
and was mother to James K. Baxter
.
Brown died at Christchurch on 18 January 1935 at the age of 89, leaving a significant bequest to Canterbury College
.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
-New Zealand
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...
academic, administrator and promoter of education for women.
Brown was born in Irvine
Irvine, North Ayrshire
Irvine is a new town on the coast of the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland. According to 2007 population estimates, the town is home to 39,527 inhabitants, making it the biggest settlement in North Ayrshire....
, the sixth child of Ann Brown and her husband, James Brown, a sea captain. John was raised in a family that placed high value on education—for both sexes. He attended Irvine Academy, then University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
and University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
. He declined a Balliol scholarship in mathematics instead taking a Snell exhibition for Classics and philosophy.
In 1874 he was selected as professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Classics and English, one of three foundation chairs at the newly established Canterbury College
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, then part of 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 his new role, he worked 16 hours a day, covering English literature and composition, Latin and Greek; inspecting secondary schools and examining for teachers' certificates. After a professor of classics was appointed in 1879, he took on history and political economy.
Under his patronage Canterbury College admitted Helen Connon
Helen Connon
Helen Connon was an educational pioneer from Christchurch, New Zealand. She was the first woman in the British Empire to win any university degree with honours....
as a matriculated student in 1876, the first Australasian university institution to admit women to degree classes on an equal basis with men. Connon was second woman in the British Empire to graduate BA and the first to receive a degree with honours. Brown and Connon married on 9 December 1886. They had two children including Millicent Amiel, who later married Archibald Baxter
Archibald Baxter
Archibald McColl Learmond Baxter was a New Zealand pacifist, socialist, and anti-war activist.He refused to serve during the first world war, on the grounds that "all war is wrong, futile, and destructive alike to victor and vanquished." So he was arrested in 1917, imprisoned, then shipped to the...
and was mother to James K. Baxter
James K. Baxter
James Keir Baxter was a poet, and is a celebrated figure in New Zealand society.-Biography:Baxter was born in Dunedin to Archibald Baxter and Millicent Brown and grew up near Brighton. He was named after James Keir Hardie, a founder of the British Labour Party. His father had been a conscientious...
.
Brown died at Christchurch on 18 January 1935 at the age of 89, leaving a significant bequest to Canterbury College
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
.
Links
- Cherry Hankin. 'Brown, John Macmillan - Biography', from the Dictionary of New Zealand BiographyDictionary of New Zealand BiographyThe Dictionary of New Zealand Biography contains biographies for over 3,000 New Zealanders. It is available in both English and Maori. All volumes of the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography are available online....
. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand - Macmillan Brown Lecture series Radio New ZealandRadio New ZealandRadio New Zealand is a New Zealand public service radio broadcaster and Crown entity formed by the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. It operates news, current affairs and arts network Radio New Zealand National and classical music and jazz network Radio New Zealand Concert with full government funding...
- MacMillan Brown Prize for Writers University of CanterburyUniversity of CanterburyThe University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
- Macmillan Brown Library University of CanterburyUniversity of CanterburyThe University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...