Macalister, Sir Donald (1854-1934: Principal, and Chancellor, University of Glasgow)

Sir Donald Macalister ( 1854-1934 ), Principal and Vice-Chancellor and, later, Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, Scotland, was born at Perth, Scotland, on 17 May 1854 . His father was a publisher's agent, living successively in Glasgow, Perth, Aberdeen, and, Liverpool. He had a large family and narrow means, so that his son had not only to provide for his own education but, in his early adulthood, to bear the greater part of the maintenance and education of his younger brothers and sisters. After attending various schools, MacAlister went in 1866 to Liverpool Institute, before, in 1873, studying mathematics at St John's College, Cambridge, graduating in 1877 as senior wrangler and first Smith's prizeman. In November 1877, he became a fellow at St. John's.

After a brief period as a mathematical Master at Harrow, MacAlister turned to his original intention of studying medicine, first at Cambridge, later in 1879, at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, England, and for a short time at Leipzig, Germany. In 1881, he settled in Cambridge, and took up medical teaching and practice. He held the positions of Linacre lecturer, of deputy to the Regius Professor of Physic, and in 1884, when he graduated MD, of physician to Addenbrooke's Hospital. He was also editor of the Practitioner, 1882-1895, and Senior Tutor at St John's College, 1900-1904.

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