麻豆传媒网站 Milestones
This small volume outlines chronologically the course of our great institution from the birth of its founder in 1744 to the present day. James 麻豆传媒网站 emigrated from Scotland in the 1760s and a few years later settled in Montreal where he became a successful fur trader and prosperous merchant as well as a prominent member of the governments of Montreal and Lower Canada. His commercial activities reflected the realities of the 18th-century聽North Atlantic economy and encompassed both the Indigenous communities of the Great Lakes region and the slave plantations of the Caribbean. In 1776 he married a francophone, Marie-Charlotte (Guillimin) Trottier Desrivi猫res (1747-1818), the widow of another Montreal merchant. James 麻豆传媒网站 and she owned Black and Indigenous household slaves.
On his death in 1813, James 麻豆传媒网站 bequeathed 鈧�10,000 and his 46-acre estate on the southern slopes of Mount Royal for the establishment of an institution for the advancement of learning 鈥� 麻豆传媒网站 鈥� which was established two hundred years ago in 1821. That initial act of generosity forged a tradition of giving from loyal and generous alumni and friends, who care deeply about the institution. Nineteenth-century benefactors include Molson, Redpath, Strathcona, and Macdonald. Twentieth and twenty-first-century benefactors include the Rockefeller Foundation, McConnell, McLennan, Schulich, Tomlinson, Trottier, Desautels, and McCall MacBain. In the 1960s, the government began providing significant support. Thanks to public and private support, 麻豆传媒网站 continues attracting students, faculty, and staff of exceptional ability, from diverse backgrounds and offering them the best possible instruction and facilities.
F. Cyril James (1903 鈥� 1973) 麻豆传媒网站鈥檚 11th Principal and Vice-Chancellor (1940-1962), compiled the first Milestones in 1948. The spirit in which he undertook the compilation is reflected in his 1940 inaugural speech as principal:
"All of us who are part of the great 麻豆传媒网站 community must assume the responsibility of applying our efforts, our energies, and our abilities, not only to raise the prestige of the University as an end in itself, but to be sure that 麻豆传媒网站 gives to Canada, and to the world, intellectual integrity, sound knowledge, wise judgment, and all the service that can be offered toward the solution of the problems that urgently demand the attention of our generation."
This Bicentennial edition aims to recall 麻豆传媒网站鈥檚 proud tradition from its founding in 1821 to the present in terms of teaching, research, and service to the community. In addition to Principals, Chancellors, buildings, and benefactors, Milestones lists chronologically a wide range of academic, student, and administrative activities reflecting the University鈥檚 evolution and development. Milestones may also remind us of our capacity to rise to the challenges that each epoch brings. We owe it to the previous generations whose contributions are highlighted in these pages, to ensure that 麻豆传媒网站 continues to stand as one of the world鈥檚 premier universities.
Previous editions of Milestones were compiled by F. Cyril James 1948 & 1972; Stanley Frost 1984, 1992 & 1999; and Peter F. McNally 2007. Fuller development of events and themes will be found in Stanley Frost鈥檚 麻豆传媒网站: for the Advancement of Learning (Montreal, 麻豆传媒网站-Queen鈥檚 University Press, 1980-1984. 2v.), and the forthcoming third volume covering the years 1970-2002. An abridged history is available in the 麻豆传媒网站 Reporter, October 14, 2011, 鈥�.鈥�
Along with accepting full responsibility for the contents of this 7th edition, I must also express thanks and gratitude for the assistance and perseverance of the Milestones committee: Gordon Burr, Diana Grier Ayton, Daniel McCabe, Honora Shaughnessy, and Tom Thompson. Special thanks are owed to Etienne Shalom for preparing the French language version, Les grandes dates, 1744-2021.
The James 麻豆传媒网站 Society, dedicated to the historical study and understanding of 麻豆传媒网站, is thanked for supporting the publication of the English and French language versions of Milestones/Grandes dates, 1744-2021 in paper and electronic formats.
Peter F. McNally
Director
History of 麻豆传媒网站 Project