![Sir Hector Hetherington's grave, Tillicoultry](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/Sir_Hector_Hetherington%27s_grave%2C_Tillicoultry.JPG)
Sir Hector James Wright Hetherington (21 July 1888 – 15 January 1965) was a Scottish philosopher, who was Vice-Chancellor of the
University of Liverpool
, mottoeng = These days of peace foster learning
, established = 1881 – University College Liverpool1884 – affiliated to the federal Victoria Universityhttp://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/2004/4 University of Manchester Act 200 ...
from 1927 to 1936, and
Principal of the University of Glasgow
The Principal of the University of Glasgow is the working head of the University, acting as its chief executive. He is responsible for the day-to-day management of the University as well as its strategic planning and administration. The Principa ...
until 1961.
Early life
Hetherington was born in
Cowdenbeath
Cowdenbeath (; sco, Coudenbeith) is a town and burgh in west Fife, Scotland. It is north-east of Dunfermline and north of the capital, Edinburgh. The town grew up around the extensive coalfields of the area and became a police burgh in 18 ...
,
Fife
Fife (, ; gd, Fìobha, ; sco, Fife) is a council area, historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries with Perth and Kinross (i ...
,
and educated at
Dollar Academy
Dollar Academy, founded in 1818 by John McNabb, is an independent co-educational day and boarding school in Scotland. The open campus occupies a site in the centre of Dollar, Clackmannanshire, at the foot of the Ochil Hills.
Overview
As of 20 ...
where he was school dux 1904 and 1905.
He studied at the
University of Glasgow
, image = UofG Coat of Arms.png
, image_size = 150px
, caption = Coat of arms
Flag
, latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis
, motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita
, ...
and at
Merton College, Oxford
Merton College (in full: The House or College of Scholars of Merton in the University of Oxford) is one of the Colleges of Oxford University, constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the ...
.
Career
He was appointed Lecturer in Moral Philosophy at Glasgow in 1910,
and Lecturer in Philosophy at the
University of Sheffield
, mottoeng = To discover the causes of things
, established = – University of SheffieldPredecessor institutions:
– Sheffield Medical School – Firth College – Sheffield Technical School – University College of Sheffield
, type = Pu ...
in 1914, before becoming Professor of Logic and Philosophy at University College Cardiff (now
Cardiff University
, latin_name =
, image_name = Shield of the University of Cardiff.svg
, image_size = 150px
, caption = Coat of arms of Cardiff University
, motto = cy, Gwirionedd, Undod a Chytgord
, mottoeng = Truth, Unity and Concord
, established = 1 ...
) in 1915.
He worked in the Secretariat of the 1919
International Labour Conference
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a United Nations agency whose mandate is to advance social and economic justice by setting international labour standards. Founded in October 1919 under the League of Nations, it is the first and ol ...
of the
League of Nations
The League of Nations (french: link=no, Société des Nations ) was the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. It was founded on 10 January 1920 by the Paris Peace Conference that ...
in
Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
In 1920, he moved to University College Exeter as Professor of Philosophy and Principal of the College, and returned to Glasgow in 1924 as
Professor of Moral Philosophy. In 1927, he became Vice-Chancellor of the
University of Liverpool
, mottoeng = These days of peace foster learning
, established = 1881 – University College Liverpool1884 – affiliated to the federal Victoria Universityhttp://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/2004/4 University of Manchester Act 200 ...
,
but returned to Glasgow again in 1936, as
Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University. He served in this position for twenty-five years, retiring in 1961.
He served as a Trustee of the
Carnegie United Kingdom Trust
The Carnegie United Kingdom Trust is an independent, endowed charitable trust based in Scotland that operates throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Originally established with an endowment from Andrew Carnegie in his birthplace of Dunfermline ...
and, ''ex officio'', of the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland from 1936 until 1961.
He was a Trustee of the
Nuffield Foundation
The Nuffield Foundation is a charitable trust established in 1943 by William Morris, Lord Nuffield, the founder of Morris Motors Ltd. It aims to improve social well-being by funding research and innovation projects in education and social pol ...
from 1943 until his death, serving as Vice-Chairman from 1961.
In 1942 he visited the US as a British visiting adviser to American universities on wartime academic policy.
In 1943 he became Chairman of the Committee of British Vice-Chancellors and remained as Chairman or Deputy Chairman until 1952.
As a member of the Award Committee of the Commonwealth Fund he travelled widely, particularly in the United States and Canada, to promote links between British Universities and those in other countries. He received honorary degrees from 13 universities in the UK and North America. From 1930 to 1932 he was a member of the Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance and in 1938 was appointed as Chairman of the Royal Commission on Workmen's Compensation. From 1940 to 1948 he was a member of the National Arbitration Tribunal and from 1951 to 1959 he was a member of the Industrial Disputes Tribunal.
Personal life
Hetherington married Mary Ethel Alison Reid (1886-1966) in 1914, with whom he had two sons.
The elder son, Scott, became a senior civil servant in the Scottish Office, while the younger son,
Alastair, went on to become editor of ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
''. He retired in 1961 to Edinburgh. He was a member of the
Athenæum, the
Royal Scottish Automobile Club
Royal may refer to:
People
* Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name
* A member of a royal family
Places United States
* Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community
* Royal, Illinois, a village
* Royal, Iowa, a ci ...
and
Glasgow Golf Club
Glasgow Golf Club, founded in May 1787, is the ninth oldest golf club in the world. It has changed location several times during its history, but has been based at Killermont in Bearsden since 21 May 1904. The Club is unusual in also having a l ...
. He was
knighted
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...
in the
1936 New Years Honours List, and appointed Knight Commander of the
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...
(KBE) in the
1948 King's Birthday Honours List and Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) in the
1962 New Years Honours List.
He served as a
Deputy Lieutenant (DL) for the County of Glasgow,
and was made a
Freeman
Freeman, free men, or variant, may refer to:
* a member of the Third Estate in medieval society (commoners), see estates of the realm
* Freeman, an apprentice who has been granted freedom of the company, was a rank within Livery companies
* Free ...
of the City of Glasgow in 1961.
He is buried in a simple grave with his wife in the cemetery in
Tillicoultry
Tillicoultry ( ; Scottish Gaelic: Tulach Cultraidh, perhaps from older Gaelic ''Tullich-cul-tir'', or "the mount/hill at the back of the country") is a town in Clackmannanshire, Scotland. Tillicoultry is usually referred to as Tilly by the loc ...
, just south-east of the war memorial. His younger son Alastair is buried beside them.
Published works
* With J. H. Muirhead. ''Social Purpose.'' George Allen & Unwin, 1918.
* ''The Life and Letters of Sir Henry Jones.'' Hodder and Stoughton. 1924.
* ''Letters to Graduates 1946-61.'' University of Glasgow. 1965.
* Several articles and lectures.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hetherington, Hector James Wright
1888 births
1965 deaths
People from Cowdenbeath
People educated at Dollar Academy
Alumni of the University of Glasgow
Alumni of Merton College, Oxford
Principals of the University College of the South West of England
Academics of the University of Glasgow
Academics of the University of Sheffield
Academics of Cardiff University
Vice-Chancellors of the University of Liverpool
Principals of the University of Glasgow
Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
Deputy Lieutenants of Glasgow
Knights Bachelor