Dictionary of National Biography, 1927 supplement/Peterson, William
PETERSON, Sir WILLIAM (1856–1921), classical scholar and educationist, the fifth son of John Peterson, a merchant of Leith, by his wife, Grace Mountford Anderson, was born in Edinburgh 29 May 1856. He was educated at the high school and university of Edinburgh; graduating in 1875, he went with a travelling fellowship to Göttingen; in 1876 he entered Corpus Christi College, Oxford, as Ferguson scholar, graduating in 1879. From 1879 to 1882 he was assistant professor of the humanities in the university of Edinburgh, and from 1882 to 1895 first principal of the newly founded University College, Dundee. Here he made his mark as an administrator, and secured excellent terms for his institution in the long negotiations leading to union with the university of St. Andrews; he also continued his classical studies, editing Book x of Quintilian's Institutio Oratoria (1891), the Dialogus de Oratoribus of Tacitus (1893), and Cicero Pro Cluentio (1895).
In May 1895 Peterson was appointed principal of McGill University, Montreal, in succession to Sir William Dawson [q.v.]. Here his talent as administrator had ample scope. He found a group of largely autonomous schools and he transformed it into a university. He won the confidence of the wealthy men of Montreal—especially of Lord Strathcona [q.v.] and of Sir William Macdonald (1831–1917), the head of the Canadian tobacco industry—and obtained from them buildings and endowments, especially for agriculture, applied science, and medicine. Faculties of law, medicine, commerce, education, and social service were added to the university; but Peterson's constant endeavours to strengthen the faculty of arts found less sympathy in a great commercial city.
As principal of McGill, Peterson continued his own classical studies and publications. In 1901 he discovered in the library of Holkham Hall a ninth-century manuscript (formerly belonging to Cluny) of Cicero's Speeches; and in 1907 he produced an edition of the Verrines, based upon this text. He also took an active part in educational work in Quebec, and throughout Canada and the United States, and was a very distinct personality among the university presidents of the continent. He was for some years chairman of the protestant committee of the council of public instruction in Quebec, and a most influential trustee, and for a time chairman, of the Carnegie foundation for the advancement of teaching.
During the European War Peterson spoke and worked unceasingly, and on 12 January 1919, while presiding at a meeting on behalf of the dependents of dead or disabled Scottish soldiers and sailors, he was stricken with paralysis. In May he resigned, and returned to England, dying at Hampstead on 4 January 1921.
Peterson married in 1885 Lisa, eldest daughter of William Ross, shipowner, of Glenearn, Perthshire, and had two sons. He received honorary degrees from many universities, and in 1915 was created K.C.M.G. In politics he was an imperialist, and in his later years spoke and wrote much in favour of the continued and closer connexion between Canada and Great Britain. Though deeply devoted to McGill and to Canada, Peterson always remained half Scot, half cosmopolitan. He could show a salutary hauteur on occasion, and he did not suffer fools gladly, but he had also great personal charm and distinction.
[Cyrus MacMillan, McGill and its story, 1921; personal knowledge.]