David Allison (college president)
Encyclopedia
David Allison was a Canadian professor, administrator and author. He was president both of Mount Allison College and later of Mount Allison University
from 1869 to 1878 and from 1891 to 1911, respectively.
He was born in Newport, Nova Scotia, the son of James Whidden Allison
and Margaret Elder. He was educated at the Dalhousie Collegiate School (later Dalhousie University
), at the Wesleyan Academy in Sackville, New Brunswick
, founded by Charles Frederick Allison, and at Wesleyan University
in Connecticut
, from which he received a B.A. in 1859 and an M.A. three years later.
Allison married Elizabeth Powell in 1862; she died in 1898. Also in 1862, he became a professor of classics at Mount Allison College. He succeeded Humphrey Pickard
as president of the college in 1869. In 1877, Allison was named superintendent of education for Nova Scotia
. He married Ellen Elizabeth Cummins in 1902. Allison developed an English grammar for use in Nova Scotia schools and also wrote a three volume History of Nova Scotia which was published in 1916. He returned to Mount Allison University in 1891 for his second term as president.
He died in Halifax
at the age of 87.
His brother William Henry
served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons.
Mount Allison University
Mount Allison University is a primarily undergraduate Canadian liberal arts and science university situated in Sackville, New Brunswick. It is located about a half hour from the regional city of Moncton and 20 minutes from the Greater Moncton International Airport...
from 1869 to 1878 and from 1891 to 1911, respectively.
He was born in Newport, Nova Scotia, the son of James Whidden Allison
James Whidden Allison
James Whidden Allison was a farmer and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Newport township in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1836 to 1840....
and Margaret Elder. He was educated at the Dalhousie Collegiate School (later Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
), at the Wesleyan Academy in Sackville, New Brunswick
Sackville, New Brunswick
Sackville is a Canadian town in Westmorland County, New Brunswick.Mount Allison University is located in the town...
, founded by Charles Frederick Allison, and at Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, from which he received a B.A. in 1859 and an M.A. three years later.
Allison married Elizabeth Powell in 1862; she died in 1898. Also in 1862, he became a professor of classics at Mount Allison College. He succeeded Humphrey Pickard
Humphrey Pickard
Humphrey Pickard was a Canadian Methodist minister, educator, and journalist. He was the first president from 1862 to 1869 of Mount Allison Wesleyan College ....
as president of the college in 1869. In 1877, Allison was named superintendent of education for Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. He married Ellen Elizabeth Cummins in 1902. Allison developed an English grammar for use in Nova Scotia schools and also wrote a three volume History of Nova Scotia which was published in 1916. He returned to Mount Allison University in 1891 for his second term as president.
He died in Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
at the age of 87.
His brother William Henry
William Henry Allison
William Henry Allison was a Canadian politician and school lands commissioner. He was elected as a Conservative to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1878 election in the riding of Hants and re-elected in 1882.Allison was the son of James Whidden Allison, who had served as a member of the...
served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons.
External links
- Allison, D History of Nova Scotia, Vol. 1 (1916)
- Allison, D History of Nova Scotia, Vol. 2 (1916)
- Allison, D & Tuck, CE History of Nova Scotia, Vol. 3 (1916)