Douglas Alston Gilchrist
Encyclopedia
Douglas Alston Gilchrist FRSE FHAS
(1860-1927) was a Scottish-born professor of agriculture; author and government advisor.
, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was the older brother of the suffragist Marion Gilchrist
who, like himself, attended the famous Hamilton Academy
school. Upon leaving the Academy, Gilchrist spent the next twelve years in practical farming before attending agriculture and science classes at the Glasgow (and West of Scotland) Technical College, after which he matriculated at the University of Edinburgh
, graduating B.Sc. in agriculture in 1889, and also gaining the Royal Agricultural Society of England’s senior certificate and the Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland’s
diploma in agriculture, and its Fellowship (FHAS).
In 1889 Gilchrist was appointed Director of the Agricultural Department, University College of North Wales
, Bangor, leaving this position in 1894 to take up the professorship in agriculture at the old Reading College
, a position he held until 1902 when he was appointed Professor in Agriculture and Rural Economy, Armstrong College, Durham University
, a Chair he was to hold up to his death in 1927.
Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
on the 5 February 1900, in 1903 Gilchrist was awarded the degree of M.Sc. in the University of Durham. Gilchrist was the author of numerous academic Papers and an advisor on agriculture to government.
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in the north transept of the Parish Church at Bothwell. The inscription below the window reads, "To the Glory of God. Erected by Marion Gilchrist in memory of her father William Gilchrist and her mother Margaret Williamson, her brothers, John William and Douglas, and her sister Agnes."
University of Newcastle
Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland
The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland was founded in Edinburgh in 1784 as the Highland Society of Edinburgh. The Society was formed 2 years after the repeal of the Dress Act of 1746, at a time when there was renewed interest in Highland culture.The Society is responsible for...
(1860-1927) was a Scottish-born professor of agriculture; author and government advisor.
Early life and education
The son of wealthy farmer William Gilchrist and his wife Margaret, Douglas Alston Gilchrist was born at Bothwell Park, BothwellBothwell
Bothwell is a small town in the South Lanarkshire council area of Scotland. It lies on the north bank of the River Clyde, adjacent to Uddingston and Hamilton, nine miles east-south-east of Glasgow city centre....
, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was the older brother of the suffragist Marion Gilchrist
Marion Gilchrist (doctor)
Dr Marion Gilchrist was the first female graduate of the University of Glasgow; the first woman to qualify in medicine from a Scottish university; and a leading activist in the Women’s suffrage Movement in Scotland...
who, like himself, attended the famous Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy was a school situated in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.Described as "one of the finest schools in Scotland" in the Cambridge University Press County Biography of 1910, Hamilton Academy featured in the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association Magazine article series on...
school. Upon leaving the Academy, Gilchrist spent the next twelve years in practical farming before attending agriculture and science classes at the Glasgow (and West of Scotland) Technical College, after which he matriculated at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, graduating B.Sc. in agriculture in 1889, and also gaining the Royal Agricultural Society of England’s senior certificate and the Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland’s
Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland
The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland was founded in Edinburgh in 1784 as the Highland Society of Edinburgh. The Society was formed 2 years after the repeal of the Dress Act of 1746, at a time when there was renewed interest in Highland culture.The Society is responsible for...
diploma in agriculture, and its Fellowship (FHAS).
Career and honours
Bangor University
Bangor University is a university based in the city of Bangor in the county of Gwynedd in North Wales-United Kingdom.It was officially known for most of its history as the University College of North Wales...
, Bangor, leaving this position in 1894 to take up the professorship in agriculture at the old Reading College
Reading College
Reading College is a further education college based in Reading, Berkshire, England. It has over 8,500 local learners on over 900 courses.The Kings Road site that is the principal location of Reading College has been used for further education since 1955, when the Reading College of Technology was...
, a position he held until 1902 when he was appointed Professor in Agriculture and Rural Economy, Armstrong College, Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
, a Chair he was to hold up to his death in 1927.
Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
on the 5 February 1900, in 1903 Gilchrist was awarded the degree of M.Sc. in the University of Durham. Gilchrist was the author of numerous academic Papers and an advisor on agriculture to government.
The Douglas Alston Gilchrist Scholarships
Douglas Gilchrist died at Newcastle-on-Tyne, 4 April 1927, and under the terms his Will, in 1930 the Douglas Alston Gilchrist Scholarships (2 awards) were established, now administered by the University of NewcastleUniversity of Newcastle
University of Newcastle can refer to:* Newcastle University, a university in the United Kingdom* University of Newcastle, Australia, a university in New South Wales...
.
The Gilchrist Window
Douglas Gilchrist’s sister, Marion, commissioned The Gilchrist Window (1936) by Douglas StrachanDouglas Strachan
Dr. Douglas Strachan was considered the most significant Scottish designer of stained glass windows in the 20th Century. Schooled at Robert Gordon's, he studied art at Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen, at the Life School of the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh, and the Royal Academy in London...
in the north transept of the Parish Church at Bothwell. The inscription below the window reads, "To the Glory of God. Erected by Marion Gilchrist in memory of her father William Gilchrist and her mother Margaret Williamson, her brothers, John William and Douglas, and her sister Agnes."
External links
The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of ScotlandUniversity of Newcastle