Boyd, William, 1874-1962, educationalist, reader in department of education, University of Glasgow, Scotland,

William Boyd was born in Riccarton, Ayrshire on 18 March 1874 , the son of David Boyd, a journeyman pattern-maker and Janet Smith, a farmer's daughter and servant maid. He married Isa Burt in 1905 and had one daughter and then married Dorothy Wilson in 1919, with whom he had two sons and one daughter.

He was educated at Kilmarnock Academy and the University of Glasgow . At the University he took at Honours Philosophy degree and won the John Clark scholarship four years in a row. He graduated MA in 1896 . He attended the Free Church College from 1895-1897 intending to enter the Ministry but decided to pursue a teaching career instead. Advised by his old teacher David Murray to first get a Science degree and was awarded the Ewing Fellowship of 100 pounds per annum to pursue his studies. He graduated BSc in 1900 and started teaching at Blairgowrie Secondary School the following year.

He moved to North Kelvinside School in 1902 where he rekindled his interest in the Glasgow University Settlement. He became Headmaster of Colston Public School in 1907 and then was appointed Lecturer in Education at the University the same year. He graduated DPhil in 1911 for his thesis The Educational Theory of Jean Jacques Rousseau , later published by Longmans. This was one of many educational publications.

He remained Lecturer and then Reader in Education at the University of Glasgow until 1946 , being awarded an LLD for his services to Education. He was President of the Educational Institute of Scotland in 1920-1921, Warden of Glasgow University Student Settlement and afterwards President. He was visiting Professor of Education at Columbia University, New York, USA. He acted as consultant on the Third Statistical Account of Scotland from 1947.

He remained Emeritus Reader in Education at the University of Glasgow until his death on 28 August 1962 .

From the guide to the Papers of William Boyd, 1874-1962, educationalist, reader in department of education, University of Glasgow, Scotland, c1955 -c1990, (Glasgow University Archives Service)