James Drever
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James Drever
FRSE Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE) is an award granted to individuals that the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland's national academy of science and letters, judged to be "eminently distinguished in their subject". This soci ...
(1910–1991) was a Scottish academic who served as the first Principal of the
University of Dundee The University of Dundee; . Abbreviated as ''Dund.'' for post-nominals. is a public university, public research university based in Dundee, Scotland. It was founded as a University college#United Kingdom, university college in 1881 with a donation ...
. He has been described as 'one of the most pivotal figures in the University's history'.


Early life and career

James Drever was born to
Orcadian Orcadians, also known as Orkneymen, are an ethnic group native to the Orkney Islands, who speak an Orcadian dialect of the Scots language, a West Germanic language, and share a common history, culture and ancestry. Speaking Norn, a native North G ...
parents in
Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
in 1910. His father was the academic
James Drever James Drever FRSE (1910–1991) was a Scottish academic who served as the first Principal of the University of Dundee. He has been described as 'one of the most pivotal figures in the University's history'. Early life and career James Drev ...
(1873–1950), who had studied at the
University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...
from 1889, from which he graduated with an MA before proceeding to study medicine. The elder Drever then worked at the University as assistant to the Professor of Education, before his appointment as Combe Lecturer and head of the
Psychology Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries betwe ...
Department at Edinburgh in 1918. James Drever was educated at the
Royal High School of Edinburgh The Royal High School (RHS) of Edinburgh is a co-educational state school, school administered by the City of Edinburgh Council. The school was founded in 1128 and is one of the oldest schools in Scotland. It serves 1,200 pupils drawn from four ...
,
University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...
and the
University of Cambridge , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...
and would remain in academia for the rest of his working life aside from a period of service in the
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...
. From 1934 he taught Philosophy at Edinburgh, joining
Newcastle University Newcastle University (legally the University of Newcastle upon Tyne) is a UK public university, public research university based in Newcastle upon Tyne, North East England. It has overseas campuses in Singapore and Malaysia. The university is ...
as a lecturer four years later. By this time he had an interest in
Psychology Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries betwe ...
and taught both subjects at Newcastle. In the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
he served in the
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...
. In 1931 his father had been promoted at Edinburgh to become the first Professor of Psychology in Scotland. In 1944 the elder Drever retired, and it was his son who was chosen as his successor, but could not take the post until the end of the war. In addition to his responsibilities as a professor and head of department, the younger Drever also served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Edinburgh from 1958 until 1960 and was a visiting professor at
Princeton University Princeton University is a private university, private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the List of Colonial Colleges, fourth-oldest ins ...
from 1954 until 1955. Along with his father, and others, he was heavily involved in organising the 12th International Congress of Psychology, which met in Edinburgh in 1948. His father was elected president of the congress, but was unable to attend it due to ill health. Consequently, it was the younger Drever who delivered the presidential address his father had written on the theme of “Scottish psychology since Hume”. Under James Drever's leadership from 1944 to 1966 the Psychology Department at Edinburgh increased in both size and stature and an "Honours School" in Psychology was fully established. In 1963 the department left the premises it had been in since it was set up in 1906 and moved to new accommodation at 60, The Pleasance. As had been the case under his father's stewardship, the department's teaching included 'a strong philosophical element'. During this period Drever established himself as a well known and highly respected Psychologist and served as President of the
British Psychological Society The British Psychological Society (BPS) is a representative body for psychologists and psychology in the United Kingdom. History It was founded on 24 October 1901 at University College London (UCL) as ''The Psychological Society'', the organ ...
.


Robbins Committee and the University of Dundee

Drever had a strong interest in theories and practice of higher education and this led to his appointment to the Committee on Higher Education chaired by
Lionel Robbins Lionel Charles Robbins, Baron Robbins, (22 November 1898 – 15 May 1984) was a British economist, and prominent member of the economics department at the London School of Economics (LSE). He is known for his leadership at LSE, his proposed def ...
. Drever and Sir David Anderson, the former director of the
Royal College of Science and Technology The Royal College of Science and Technology was a higher education college that existed in Glasgow, Scotland between 1887 and 1964, and is the predecessor institution of the University of Strathclyde. Its main building on George Street now serve ...
were the only Scottish members of the committee. Drever would later recall his work with the Committee included visiting the
USSR The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nationa ...
where the committee was impressed with the detailed level of planning relating to education that was carried out. The resulting
Robbins Report The Robbins Report (the report of the Committee on Higher Education, chaired by Lord Robbins) was commissioned by the British government and published in 1963. The committee met from 1961 to 1963. After the report's publication, its conclusions wer ...
recommended the immediate expansion of university education in the United Kingdom. One result of this was the decision that Queen's College, Dundee, a part of the
University of St. Andrews (Aien aristeuein) , motto_lang = grc , mottoeng = Ever to ExcelorEver to be the Best , established = , type = Public research university Ancient university , endowment ...
should become a university in its own right. Drever was an obvious candidate to lead this new institution and in 1966 was appointed as Master of Queen's College to oversee its transition in the
University of Dundee The University of Dundee; . Abbreviated as ''Dund.'' for post-nominals. is a public university, public research university based in Dundee, Scotland. It was founded as a University college#United Kingdom, university college in 1881 with a donation ...
. When the University was granted its charter the following year Drever formally became its principal and vice-chancellor. Drever's appointment marked the first time a psychologist had obtained such a post in the United Kingdom.


Principal of the University of Dundee

It has been argued that in his role as principal, Drever "did much to establish the University of Dundee as a success". The early years of the University's existence were difficult ones. Changes in government policy on higher education meant that the University was operating in an uncertain financial environment and cuts had to be made. At the same time there were episodes of student discontent and protest. These included a student 24 work-in led by George Robertson in 1968, student occupations of the University Tower Building in 1971 and 1974, a student rent strike in 1973 (which Drever initially seemed to not only support, but to encourage) and various smaller protests. Drever gave support to some of these protests and in 1969 actually encouraged students to oppose a planned visit to the University by
Enoch Powell John Enoch Powell, (16 June 1912 – 8 February 1998) was a British politician, classical scholar, author, linguist, soldier, philologist, and poet. He served as a Conservative Member of Parliament (1950–1974) and was Minister of Health (1 ...
. Drever's stance on Powell attracted media attention, with the
Glasgow Herald ''The Herald'' is a Scottish broadsheet newspaper founded in 1783. ''The Herald'' is the longest running national newspaper in the world and is the eighth oldest daily paper in the world. The title was simplified from ''The Glasgow Herald'' in ...
comparing his actions to that of a 'gamekeeper-turned-poacher'. While the aftermath of the 1973 rent strike, which saw the suspension of the
Dundee University Students' Association Dundee University Students' Association (DUSA) is the students' association, legal representative and students' union for matriculated students of the University of Dundee. It is known locally as 'The Union'. Membership of the body is automat ...
's constitution by the University Court and threats to sue some of the strikers, caused some students to express a degree of ill-feeling towards Drever, others thought highly of him. Drever took an active role in establishing the University of Dundee Botanic Garden, which opened in October 1971. Drever oversaw the University developing increasing links with
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design (DJCAD) is part of the University of Dundee in Dundee, Scotland. It is ranked as one of the top schools of art and design in the United Kingdom. History Attempts were made to establish an art schoo ...
, with the art students receiving lectures at the University and the creation of a joint degree in Town Planning. While Principal of Dundee he served as Honorary President of the
Abertay Historical Society The Abertay Historical Society (AHS) is a historical society based in Dundee, Scotland. It aims to promote interest in history, with a special focus on the history of Perthshire, Angus and Fife. The AHS runs a regular programme of public lectures ...
. Drever retired as Principal in 1978 after 11 years in office, a period of service unmatched by any of his successors. His papers are now held by the University's Archive Services and the University's fine art collections include a portrait of Drever in his principal's robes painted by Alberto Morocco. The University holds, as an occasional event, a Drever Lecture in Psychology to commemorate him.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Drever, James Academics of the University of Dundee Academics of the University of St Andrews Academics of the University of Edinburgh Principals of the University of Dundee 1910 births 1991 deaths Academics from Edinburgh Alumni of the University of Cambridge Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Scottish scholars and academics Philosophers from Edinburgh Scottish psychologists People associated with Dundee People educated at the Royal High School, Edinburgh 20th-century psychologists 20th-century British philosophers