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Wilson (SIR DANIEL a Canadian educator)

SIR DANIEL, a Canadian educator; born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Jan. 5, 1816; received a classical education and on leaving college in 1837 went to London and there adopted literature and journalism as a profession. A few years later he returned to Edinburgh where he studied archæology; became secretary of the Scottish Society of Antiquarians and undertook the editorship of its "Proceedings." In 1853 he was made Professor of English Literature and history in University College, Toronto, where he remained till 1880, when he was called to the presidency of Toronto University. On the formation of the Royal Society of Canada, in 1882, he was elected chairman of the section of History, Archæology, and English Literature; and succeeded to the presidency of the society in 1885. In 1888 he was knighted by the queen. Sir Daniel was also a fellow of the Royal Societies of Edinburgh, Italy, and Copenhagen; the founder of the Newsboys' Home in Toronto; chairman for several years of the Ontario Teachers' Association; president of the Young Men's Christian Association in Toronto; and the author of "Memorials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time"; "Prehistoric Annals of Scotland"; "Chatterton: a Biographical Study"; "Spring Wild Flowers"; and numerous contributions to periodical literature, etc. He died in Toronto, Canada, Aug. 7, 1892.