Louis Matheson
Encyclopedia
Sir James Adam Louis Matheson KBE
(11 February 1912 - 27 March 2002) was a British academic and university administrator, who was the first Vice-Chancellor of Monash University
in Melbourne
, Australia
.
and then the University of Melbourne
, where he modernised the Melbourne University engineering curriculum. At Melbourne University, he worked under Robert Blackwood
, a relationship that continued when Blackwood went on to become Monash's first Chancellor. In 1951, after only a few years in Australia, he returned to the UK to accept the Beyer Chair in Engineering at the University of Manchester
.
, to a university recognised internationally for excellence in research and teaching. When the University opened in 1961, it had just 347 students. 11 years into Matheson's term, it had expanded to over 12,000. Matheson managed the tumultuous years of student activism
at Monash in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was often criticised by some of the more radical students, but succeeded in maintaining strong academic standards throughout, and his responsiveness to student ideas and demands meant that the unrest was contained as successfully as possible.
In an article written shortly after his death, the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering observed that "it is hard to imagine how Matheson could have built the university better." The arts and social sciences library at the University's Clayton Campus is named in his honour. A book by Matheson published in 1980, Still learning, provides an account of his years at Monash.
During his term as Vice Chancellor, he sat on the Royal Commission on the collapse of Melbourne's King Street Bridge
(from 1962 to 1963).
, and was Chancellor of the University of Papua New Guinea
from 1973 to 1975. He was active in a number of research and professional organisations in Australia. He was a Foundation Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and President of the Institution of Engineers.
Matheson received numerous distinguished awards for his achievements at Monash. He received Honorary Doctorates from Hong Kong, Manchester, Melbourne and Monash Universities, and was knighted in 1976 for services to education.
In 1989, Matheson suffered a stroke
which confined him to a wheelchair for the remainder of his life. His wife, Lady Audrey, cared for him at home during this time. Matheson died on 27 March 2002 at the age of 90.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(11 February 1912 - 27 March 2002) was a British academic and university administrator, who was the first Vice-Chancellor of Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Early life
Matheson was born in England in 1912, and went on to study engineering at Manchester University. After spending 6 years as a civil engineer from 1933 to 1938, he took up a position at the University of BirminghamUniversity of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
and then the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, where he modernised the Melbourne University engineering curriculum. At Melbourne University, he worked under Robert Blackwood
Sir Robert Blackwood
Sir Robert Rutherford Blackwood KBE was an Australian engineer, businessman and university administrator. He was the first Chancellor of Monash University, serving from 1961-1968, and Chairman of Dunlop Australia from 1972-1979....
, a relationship that continued when Blackwood went on to become Monash's first Chancellor. In 1951, after only a few years in Australia, he returned to the UK to accept the Beyer Chair in Engineering at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
.
Vice-Chancellorship at Monash
In 1960, at just 47 years old, Matheson became the first Vice-Chancellor of Monash University, a position he held until 1976. Given only 12 months to prepare for the opening of the University, Matheson worked with astounding speed and effectiveness. He assembled staff, established courses, and set up faculties, teaching and research facilities. When Monash opened, Matheson led and oversaw rapid development, from an empty site in ClaytonClayton, Victoria
Clayton is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 19 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Monash. At the 2006 Census, Clayton had a population of 14,332.-Overview:...
, to a university recognised internationally for excellence in research and teaching. When the University opened in 1961, it had just 347 students. 11 years into Matheson's term, it had expanded to over 12,000. Matheson managed the tumultuous years of student activism
Student activism
Student activism is work done by students to effect political, environmental, economic, or social change. It has often focused on making changes in schools, such as increasing student influence over curriculum or improving educational funding...
at Monash in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was often criticised by some of the more radical students, but succeeded in maintaining strong academic standards throughout, and his responsiveness to student ideas and demands meant that the unrest was contained as successfully as possible.
In an article written shortly after his death, the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering observed that "it is hard to imagine how Matheson could have built the university better." The arts and social sciences library at the University's Clayton Campus is named in his honour. A book by Matheson published in 1980, Still learning, provides an account of his years at Monash.
During his term as Vice Chancellor, he sat on the Royal Commission on the collapse of Melbourne's King Street Bridge
King Street Bridge (Melbourne)
The King Street Bridge takes King Street over the Yarra River in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The bridge continues south as an elevated viaduct, with the Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex built around it in later years.-History:...
(from 1962 to 1963).
Later life
Beyond his work at Monash, Matheson also oversaw the development of two universities in Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
, and was Chancellor of the University of Papua New Guinea
University of Papua New Guinea
The University of Papua New Guinea was established by ordinance of the Australian administration in 1965. This followed the Currie Commission which had enquired into higher education in Papua New Guinea...
from 1973 to 1975. He was active in a number of research and professional organisations in Australia. He was a Foundation Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and President of the Institution of Engineers.
Matheson received numerous distinguished awards for his achievements at Monash. He received Honorary Doctorates from Hong Kong, Manchester, Melbourne and Monash Universities, and was knighted in 1976 for services to education.
In 1989, Matheson suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
which confined him to a wheelchair for the remainder of his life. His wife, Lady Audrey, cared for him at home during this time. Matheson died on 27 March 2002 at the age of 90.