Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Meiklejohn, John Miller Dow
MEIKLEJOHN, JOHN MILLER DOW (1836–1902), writer of school books, born in Edinburgh on 11 July 1836, was son of John Meiklejohn, an Edinburgh schoolmaster. Educated at his father's private school (7 St. Anthony Place, Port Hopetoun), he graduated M.A. at Edinburgh University on 21 April 1858, when he was the gold medallist in Latin. At an early age he devoted himself to German philosophy, and when still under twenty produced for Bohn's Philosophical Library a translation of Immanuel Kant's 'Critique of Pure Reason.' Meiklejohn became a private schoolmaster, first in the Lake district and then in Orme Square and York Place, London. He also lectured and engaged in journalism. His linguistic powers and general interest in affairs induced him in 1864 to act as a war correspondent in the Danish-German war, when he was arrested as a spy. But he was already busy with useful compilations for the schoolroom. Between 1862 and 1866 he issued 'An Essay English Grammar for Beginners, being a Plain Doctrine of Words and Sentences' (Manchester, 4 parts). For some years he published his schoolbooks for himself in Paternoster Square. In 1869 he issued (jointly with Adolf Sonnenschein) 'The English Method of Teaching to Read,' and this was followed in 1870 by 'The Fundamental Error in the Revised Code, with Special Reference to the Problem of Teaching to Read.' In 1874 Meiklejohn's educational energy was rewarded by his appointment as assistant commissioner to the endowed schools commission for Scotland. To the report of that commission he contributed valuable educational suggestions. In 1876 Dr. Bell's trustees instituted a chair of the theory, history, and practice of education in St. Andrews University, and Meiklejohn was appointed as the first professor. In his new capacity Meiklejohn from the outset exerted much influence on educational ideas at a time when the national system of education was undergoing complete reconstruction. He was a frequent contributor to the 'Journal of Education' and was a fair and humorous controversialist. Meanwhile Meiklejohn steadily continued to compile and edit school textbooks on history, geography, and literature. His works, apart from numerous school texts and reading books for Blackwood's educational series (1883-7) and the like, included 'The Book of the English Language' (1877), 'The English Language: its Grammar, History, and Literature' (1886), and 'The British Empire: its Geography, Resources, Commerce, Land-ways, and Water-ways' (1891). His numerous geographical manuals adapted to modern use the work of James Cornwell [q. v. Suppl. II]. Meiklejohn's series of school books, which was inaugurated in 1894, included a book on Australasia (1897) and 'The Art of Writing English' (1899; 4th edit. 1902). There followed 'English literature: a New History and Survey from Saxon Times to the Death of Tennyson' (posthumous, 1904). Meiklejohn did much to raise the standard of school books in use throughout the country. A keen politician, he unsuccessfully contested the Tradeston division of Glasgow as a Gladstonian liberal in 1886.
He died at Ashford, Kent, on 5 April 1902, and was buried there. He married Jane Cussans or de Cusance. Of his sons and daughters. Lieutenant H. B. Meiklejohn, R.N., died on 18 May 1908.
Besides the works mentioned Meiklejohn was author of 'An Old Educational Reformer, Dr. Andrew Bell' (Edinburgh, 12mo. 1881), and he edited the 'Life and Letters of William Ballantyne Hodgson' (Edinburgh, 1883).
[The Times, 7 April 1902; The Journal of Education. May 1903; Post Office Edinburgh and Leith Directory, 1846-7; Meiklejohn's works; Brit. Mus. Cat.]