Charles Wilson (political scientist)
Encyclopedia
Sir Charles Haynes Wilson Kt
(16 May 1909 - 1 November 2002) was a Scottish political scientist and university administrator. As Principal of University College Leicester, he led the institution to university status in 1957 and served as the first Vice-Chancellor of the new University of Leicester
, before becoming Principal
of the University of Glasgow
in 1961. He retired in 1976, and died in 2002. Buildings at both universities have been named in his honour.
, Glasgow
, and attended Hillhead High School
. He then studied languages and philosophy at the University of Glasgow
, graduating MA
in 1932 and holding the University's Faulds Fellowship for two years, studying Political Philosophy.
, and in 1939 was appointed Fellow and Tutor in Modern History and Politics at Corpus Christi College
, Oxford
, becoming Junior Proctor in 1945. In 1950, he was Visiting Professor
of Comparative Government
at Ohio State University
. In 1952, he was appointed Principal of University College Leicester, becoming the instutition's Vice-Chancellor when it was accorded full university status in 1957. He was also involved in the establishment and upgrading of the universities of Sussex
, East Anglia
and Strathclyde
.
In 1961, he succeeded Sir Hector Hetherington
as Principal of the University of Glasgow
. Professor Hetherington had begun a programme of expansion at the University, which Wilson continued. As well as the establishment of fifty new Chairs
, Wilson presided over construction of the Rankine Engineering Building, Queen Margaret Union
, Refectory (now the Fraser Building), Adam Smith Building, Boyd Orr Building and Mathematics Building, although the Library, Geology Building and Hunterian Art Gallery remained under construction at the time of his retirement due to financial and planning issues. All of these buildings had modern designs which diverge distinctly from the character of other parts of the University. He was Chairman from 1964 to 1967 of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals
, and twice Chairman of the Association of Commonwealth Universities
.
was designed by Sir Denys Lasdun
in the brutalist
style, and completed in 1963. It is Category B listed. It is the University's main social and catering building, and is licensed as a venue for civil weddings and civil partnerships.
sits at the foot of University Avenue, opposite the Glasgow University Union
and close to the Gilmorehill Centre. It is a converted church now containing a lecture theatre and seminar rooms, and is a Category C listed building.
Originally built as the Hillhead Congregational Church, and opened in 1889, it was designed by Hugh and David Barclay, whose other works included nearby schools Hillhead High School
and Glasgow Academy. The building was acquired by the University in 2004 when work began to convert it into a conference and lecture facility. The building opened in 2005 containing a raked auditorium seating three hundred and an eighty-person seminar room with a sliding partition. The design retains a number of the building's period features, such as stained glass windows, arched ceiling and polished granite columns, while introducing contemporary furnishings and comprehensive audio-visual equipment, as well as full disabled access.
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
(16 May 1909 - 1 November 2002) was a Scottish political scientist and university administrator. As Principal of University College Leicester, he led the institution to university status in 1957 and served as the first Vice-Chancellor of the new University of Leicester
University of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
, before becoming Principal
Principal of the University of Glasgow
The Principal of the University of Glasgow is the working head of the University, acting as its chief executive. He is responsible for the day-to-day management of the University as well as its strategic planning and administration. The Principal is appointed by the University Court and is...
of the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
in 1961. He retired in 1976, and died in 2002. Buildings at both universities have been named in his honour.
Early life
Wilson was born in PartickPartick
Partick is an area of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde, just across from Govan. To the west lies Whiteinch. Partick was a Police burgh from 1852 until 1912 when it was incorporated into the city.-History:...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, and attended Hillhead High School
Hillhead High School
Hillhead High School is a day school located in Glasgow, Scotland, on Oakfield Avenue, neighbouring the University of Glasgow. It is one of the largest schools in Glasgow.Until 1976 it was a selective school...
. He then studied languages and philosophy at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, graduating MA
Master of Arts (Scotland)
A Master of Arts in Scotland can refer to an undergraduate academic degree in humanities and social sciences awarded by the ancient universities of Scotland – the University of St Andrews, the University of Glasgow, the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh, while the University of...
in 1932 and holding the University's Faulds Fellowship for two years, studying Political Philosophy.
Career
In 1934, Wilson began lecturing in Political Science at the London School of EconomicsLondon School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, and in 1939 was appointed Fellow and Tutor in Modern History and Politics at Corpus Christi College
Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom...
, Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, becoming Junior Proctor in 1945. In 1950, he was Visiting Professor
Visiting scholar
In the world of academia, a visiting scholar or visiting academic is a scholar from an institution who visits a host university, where he or she is projected to teach , lecture , or perform research on a topic the visitor is valued for...
of Comparative Government
Comparative politics
Comparative politics is a subfield of political science, characterized by an empirical approach based on the comparative method. Arend Lijphart argues that comparative politics does not have a substantive focus in itself, but rather a methodological one: it focuses on "the how but does not specify...
at Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
. In 1952, he was appointed Principal of University College Leicester, becoming the instutition's Vice-Chancellor when it was accorded full university status in 1957. He was also involved in the establishment and upgrading of the universities of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
, East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
and Strathclyde
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
.
In 1961, he succeeded Sir Hector Hetherington
Hector Hetherington
Professor Sir Hector Hetherington GBE DL was a Scottish philosopher, who was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool from 1927 to 1936, and Principal of the University of Glasgow until 1961.-Early life:...
as Principal of the University of Glasgow
Principal of the University of Glasgow
The Principal of the University of Glasgow is the working head of the University, acting as its chief executive. He is responsible for the day-to-day management of the University as well as its strategic planning and administration. The Principal is appointed by the University Court and is...
. Professor Hetherington had begun a programme of expansion at the University, which Wilson continued. As well as the establishment of fifty new Chairs
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
, Wilson presided over construction of the Rankine Engineering Building, Queen Margaret Union
Queen Margaret Union
The Queen Margaret Union is one of two students' unions at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1890, it caters for the social and cultural needs of its members by providing a range of services including, entertainments, catering, shop facilities, bars and games.-History:The Queen...
, Refectory (now the Fraser Building), Adam Smith Building, Boyd Orr Building and Mathematics Building, although the Library, Geology Building and Hunterian Art Gallery remained under construction at the time of his retirement due to financial and planning issues. All of these buildings had modern designs which diverge distinctly from the character of other parts of the University. He was Chairman from 1964 to 1967 of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals
Universities UK
Universities UK began life as the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom in the nineteenth century when there were informal meetings involving Vice-Chancellors of a number of universities and Principals of university colleges...
, and twice Chairman of the Association of Commonwealth Universities
Association of Commonwealth Universities
The Association of Commonwealth Universities represents over 480 universities from Commonwealth countries.- History :In 1912, the University of London took the initiative to assemble 53 representatives of universities in London to hold a Congress of Universities of the Empire...
.
Charles Wilson Building, Leicester
The Charles Wilson Building at the University of LeicesterUniversity of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
was designed by Sir Denys Lasdun
Denys Lasdun
Sir Denys Lasdun CH was an eminent English architect. Probably his best known work is the Royal National Theatre, on London's South Bank of the Thames, which is a Grade II* listed building and one of the most notable examples of Brutalist design in the United Kingdom.Lasdun studied at the...
in the brutalist
Brutalist architecture
Brutalist architecture is a style of architecture which flourished from the 1950s to the mid 1970s, spawned from the modernist architectural movement.-The term "brutalism":...
style, and completed in 1963. It is Category B listed. It is the University's main social and catering building, and is licensed as a venue for civil weddings and civil partnerships.
Sir Charles Wilson Building, Glasgow
The Sir Charles Wilson Building at the University of GlasgowUniversity of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
sits at the foot of University Avenue, opposite the Glasgow University Union
Glasgow University Union
Glasgow University Union is one of the largest and oldest students' unions in the UK, serving students and alumni of the University of Glasgow since 1885....
and close to the Gilmorehill Centre. It is a converted church now containing a lecture theatre and seminar rooms, and is a Category C listed building.
Originally built as the Hillhead Congregational Church, and opened in 1889, it was designed by Hugh and David Barclay, whose other works included nearby schools Hillhead High School
Hillhead High School
Hillhead High School is a day school located in Glasgow, Scotland, on Oakfield Avenue, neighbouring the University of Glasgow. It is one of the largest schools in Glasgow.Until 1976 it was a selective school...
and Glasgow Academy. The building was acquired by the University in 2004 when work began to convert it into a conference and lecture facility. The building opened in 2005 containing a raked auditorium seating three hundred and an eighty-person seminar room with a sliding partition. The design retains a number of the building's period features, such as stained glass windows, arched ceiling and polished granite columns, while introducing contemporary furnishings and comprehensive audio-visual equipment, as well as full disabled access.