John Cameron Bryce was born in Hamilton, Scotland, in 1909 and was educated at St John's Grammar School and Hamilton Academy. His father, James, was a joiner. He began his studies at the University of Glasgow in 1927. In his first year he studied Ordinary English, Ordinary History, and Ordinary Latin. In his second year he took Higher English, British History and Moral Philosophy. In 1929-1930, his third year, he took Junior Honours English Language and Junior Honours English Literature. It appears that he took Senior Honours English Language and Senior Honours English Literature over two years, from 1930-1932. He received a number of prizes during his time as a student, including a one for general excellence in Latin in session 1927-1928 and the Scottish Text Society prize for English Language in session 1931-1932.
He graduated in 1932 with an MA degree in English Language and Literature and also received the George A Clark Scholarship. This allowed him to study abroad for the next four years. He spent one year in Paris, France at the Sorbonne studying mainly French literature of the Renaissance, one year at Heidelberg, Germany examining philosophy and German literature, and two years at Oriel College, Oxford, England studying under David Nichol Smith for a B Litt on John Gay.
After lecturing briefly at the University of Durham he returned to Glasgow University in 1938 as an Assistant Lecturer in the English Literature Department. In 1955 , he was promoted to Senior Lecturer in the department and was appointed to the newly created Bradley Chair in 1965 . After 1965, Bryce was involved in various projects including the multi-volume Glasgow Edition of the Works and correspondence of Adam Smith in order to commemorate the bicentenary of The Wealth of Nations . He also edited material in the Essays on Philosophical Subjects and Miscellaneous Pieces , as well as being the sole editor of the fourth volume . He retired from his post as the Bradley Professor of English Literature in 1979 after 41 years of service to the University of Glasgow.
He died on 7 March 2001 and left a significant amount of money to the Department of English Literature, primarily to perpetuate the memory of Professor Peter Alexander, former Professor of English Literature and also to perpetuate the memory of Professor W MacNeile Dixon. The executors of the estate agreed that the annual interest on the sum should be used for a scholarship for a student pursuing a taught or research MPhil in any area of English Literature, with preference being given to a student who hopes to continue to PhD level. The scholarship is called The Alexander & Dixon Scholarship (Bryce Bequest).
From the guide to the Papers of Professor John Cameron Bryce, 1909-2001, Emeritus Professor English language and literature, University of Glasgow, Scotland, 1927-1932, (Glasgow University Archive Services)
