Alexander Morrison (headmaster)

Alexander Morrison
Born	3 February 1829 Morayshire, Scotland
Died	31 May 1903
Occupation(s)	Educator, Headmaster
Spouse	Christina Morrison née Fraser (m. 1855)
Children	7, Four sons, and Three daughters

For other people with the same name, see Alexander Morrison (disambiguation).

Alexander Morrison (3 February 1829 – 31 May 1903) was a Scottish born educator who was the headmaster of Scotch College for 47 years.

Early life

Born in Morayshire, Scotland, Alexander Morrison was educated at the Elgin Academy, King's College, and the University of Aberdeen.

He began teaching at Elgin Academy, later becoming a rector of St John's Grammar School, Hamilton for three years. During this period, enrollment at the school doubled from 194 to 397.

Morrison married his wife, Christina Morrison née Fraser, in 1855. The following year, after the resignation of the inaugural headmaster, Robert Lawson, Morrison accepted the position of headmaster at the Scotch College. Morrison emigrated aboard the Essex with his wife, son, and younger brother Robert (who later became vice-principal at Scotch College from 1869–1904). They arrived in Melbourne on 25 July 1857, and a week later Morrison began his duties.

Career in Australia

When Morrison came to Melbourne there were a small 56 pupils (50 day boys, and six boarders) at Scotch College. By 1870, enrollments had passed 300. In 1873, considerable additions were made to the school buildings, including a house for the principal. Following a severe illness in 1874, Morrison was given a year's leave of absence and traveled in Europe. He was appointed a member of the council of the University of Melbourne in 1878, and attended meetings regularly.

In November 1876, Morrison moved the motion at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria which led to the founding of Ormond College at the University of Melbourne, and he largely influenced Francis Ormond in his endowing of the college. He worked in obtaining subscriptions when the college was instituted, was elected chairman of the trustees, and presided at the opening ceremony on 18 March 1881. In his earlier years at Scotch College, Morrison took classes in several subjects, but as the school increased in numbers his work became largely confined to administration.

The University of Aberdeen conferred on Morrison the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in 1876. He was the author of A First Latin Course.

Legacy

Morrison's tenure at Scotch was marked by a great deal of progress for the college and its students, with a larger proportion passing university examinations in 1870 than any other point prior in the college's history. He trained and encouraged Frank Shew (1851-1934), who joined the staff in 1870 and for 53 years, and taught succeeding classes of students (see W. J. Turner's eulogy in Blow for Balloons, chapter XXVI). Other masters were Weigall, Alexander Sutherland, and W. F. Ingram. Morrison was in charge of Scotch College for 47 years.

Morrison died suddenly from heart failure on 31 May 1903, survived by four sons and three daughters.

References

• E. L. French, 'Morrison, Alexander (1829 - 1903)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 5, MUP, 1974, pp 295–297. Retrieved 2009-10-18
• Serle, Percival (1949). "Morrison, Alexander". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus & Robertson.