Sir Robert Alexander Falconer (10 February 1867 – 4 November 1943) was a

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

academic and bible scholar.

Life

He was born in Charlottetown,

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, the eldest child of a

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minister and his wife. He attended high school in Port of Spain

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while his father was posted there and won a scholarship to 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 ...

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. He graduated MA in 1889 and then spent three years at the divinity school of the Free Church of Scotland. Falconer was ordained in 1892 but never held a clerical position. He returned to Canada that year and took a lecturership in New Testament Greek and

exegesis Exegesis ( ; from the Greek , from , "to lead out") is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text. The term is traditionally applied to the interpretation of Biblical works. In modern usage, exegesis can involve critical interpretation ...

at the

college in

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. He also began to publish articles in learned journals. In 1902 Falconer received a D.Litt. from Edinburgh University. In 1907 he became president of the

University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 ...

. He steered a middle path, combining pure scholarship with practicality. Thus he introduced more vocational subjects, while also developing higher degree programmes. He sought to maximise the independence of the university, battling unsuccessfully to retain German faculty members in 1914. Nonetheless he was knighted in 1917 for his advocacy of wartime recruitment. Falconer believed in the need to increase public awareness of, and accessibility to, Canada's historical records. He was a long time member of The Champlain Society's Council, serving as its Vice-President (1909-1935) and President (1936-42). Falconer wrote several books on current affairs, including ''The German Tragedy and its Meaning for Canada'' (1915), ''Idealism in National Character'' (1920) and ''The United States as a Neighbour'' (1926). He was an advocate of broad cooperation between the English speaking nations in international affairs, but was concerned to avoid American dominance of these relationships. Ill health obliged him to decline the principalship of the University of Edinburgh in 1929, and he retired in 1932. However he continued his scholarly work, producing ''Pastoral Epistles'', his most notable work of religious scholarship in 1937.

Honours

* Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (1916). *

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Sta ...

, Honorary Doctorate (1922). *

University of Alberta The University of Alberta, also known as U of A or UAlberta, is a Public university, public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It was founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford,"A Gentleman of Strathcona – Alexande ...

, Honorary Doctorate (1936).

Sources

References

External links

Robert Alexander Falconer archival papers
held at th
University of Toronto Archives and Records Management Services
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Falconer, Robert 1867 births 1943 deaths Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Canadian Calvinist and Reformed theologians Canadian expatriates in the United Kingdom Canadian Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George Canadian people of Scottish descent Canadian philosophers Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada People from Charlottetown Persons of National Historic Significance (Canada) Presidents of the University of Toronto