Sif John William Dawson. — Ami, 1 1 
in the university, doing the work which fell to the lot of 
Sir William Dawson, during his tenure of ofifice in the uni- 
versity from 1855- 1899. 
Besides his duties as principal and vice-chancellor of the 
university, member of the corporation, as well as chairman 
of the faculty of arts, he filled the chairs of chemistry, botany, 
zoology and geology, including mineralogy, ethnology and 
palaeontology for many years, including both the ordinary 
course of lectures and the honour or advanced courses. 
One of Sir William's strong points was the conciliatory 
nature of his arguments. He was always the broad-minded 
and many-sided man. He could see a thing in its all around as- 
pect, and was ever calm and collected in what could scarcel)^ 
even be called troublesome times. 
Like all strong-minded men, Sir William had his foes, but 
withal, he always manifested a dignity of spirit, and unswerv- 
iTig love of truth, together with a strong tendency not to 
break away too suddenly from the well-known and rather 
conservative view of things ; he went on in the even tenor of his 
way, usually carrying his point and leading his very oppon- 
ents step by step to see the situation from his standpoint. 
With the interest of the university at heart, imbued with 
a powerful and ever increasing faith in the constitution of the 
university of which he held the helm, with a far-seeing eye, he 
vent on, determined to carry his points however far-reaching 
they might be. 
Life wjth Sir William was a serious thing. It had with him 
an earnestness and an increasing, ever active interest. He was 
both orderly and systematic. His own library, work-room and 
museum were models of order and neatness, and every minute 
of his life seems to have been occupied. When we consider 
the task which he accomplished — the LTniversity which he 
leaves behind him — the monumenis which on everv side on the 
college grounds are fruits of his skill and labour, tact and a 
hopeful nature, we appreciate the persuasive power which in- 
spired confidence and won for him and the university scores 
of friends. All the students under him loved him. The wealthy 
merchants of Montreal, who came within the sphere of his in- 
fluence (and he made it his business to instruct and inspire 
many of them in the ways of munificent donations to the Uni- 
