John Brown Clark


Quick Info

Born
30 April 1861
West Linton, Peebleshire, Scotland
Died
19 July 1947
Edinburgh, Scotland

Summary
John Clark graduated from Edinburgh University and became a teacher at George Heriot's School in Edinburgh. He went on to become Rector of this school.

Biography

John Clark's name also appears as Clerk or Clarke. His father was George Clark from Newbigging, Lanarkshire. John Clark was born in West Linton, a town about 22 km south of the centre of Edinburgh, on the road to Biggar. He attended West Linton Public School, Peeblesshire, and then in 1877 went to Abbeyhill Heriot School, Edinburgh as a pupil-teacher. After four years at Abbeyhill, Clark attended the Established Church Training College, Edinburgh. He spent two years at the College during which time he also attended classes at Edinburgh University. From 1883 to 1835 he was an Assistant Master at St Leonard's School, Edinburgh. In 1835 [1]:-
... he resumed attendance at the University with the object of qualifying for an honours degree. At the University he gained medals in natural philosophy and English, and took honours in mathematics, moral philosophy, education, geology, and natural history. He was also awarded the Neil Arnott Scholarship in experimental physics as "the most distinguished student of the year in the physical laboratory of the University," and he assisted the late Professor Tait for one year with the teaching in the laboratory.
Clark graduated M.A. from the University of Edinburgh in July 1889 with Honours. In 1889 he was appointed Mathematics and Physics Master at George Heriot's School, Edinburgh. He held this position until 1908 when he was appointed Headmaster of the School. He remained Headmaster until he retired in 1926. Clark married Mary Mackay in 1891.

Among the honours Clark received was an LL.D. and an C.B.E. in 1935.

Clark was an active participant in a number of organisations. For example he was a member of the Edinburgh University Physical Society and served a term as President. He joined the Edinburgh Mathematical Society in December 1885. He served on the Committee in 1890, was Secretary of the Society from 1891 to 1896, Vice-President for session 1896-97, and then President for session 1897-98. He left the Society in 1922. Clark was elected to the Royal Society of Edinburgh on 2 February 1891, his proposers being Sir John Murray, David Fowler Lowe, Peter Guthrie Tait, George Chrystal. He served the Royal Society of Edinburgh as Councillor from 1928 to 1931, and Vice-President from 1931 to 1934.


References (show)

  1. GEORGE HERIOT'S TRUST. HEADMASTER APPOINTED, The Scotsman (Tuesday 19 March 1908).

Additional Resources (show)

Other pages about John Clark:

  1. Papers in the Proceedings and Notes of the EMS

Other websites about John Clark:

  1. zbMATH entry
  2. ERAM Jahrbuch entry

Honours (show)


Cross-references (show)


Written by J J O'Connor and E F Robertson
Last Update November 2007