Hector James Wright Hetherington was born on 21 July 1888 in Cowdenbeath, Fife, Scotland . He was educated at Dollar Academy and the University of Glasgow , Scotland, where he received an MA in 1909 , winning both the Gartmore Gold and University Silver medals for essays written that year. He lectured in Moral Philosophy at Glasgow University under Professor Sir Henry Jones from 1910-1914 and was warden of Glasgow University Settlement . He was appointed Professor of Logic & Philosophy at University College, Cardiff, Wales in 1915 where he stayed until his appointment as Principal and Professor of Philosophy at University College, Exeter, England in 1920 . He moved back to Glasgow in 1924 to take up the chair in Moral Philosophy until 1927. From 1927-1936 he was vice-chancellor at the University of Liverpool, England . The University of Glasgow appointed him Principal in 1936 where he stayed until his retirement in 1961 . He was widely acclaimed as a University administrator. He was awarded many honorary degrees including LLD (Glasgow) 1927 and honoured by many professional bodies such as the Royal Institute of British Architects . He was Chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors & Principals from 1943-1947 and again from 1949-1952 . He chaired a number of other committees including the Colonial Universities Grants Committee from 1942-1948 . He was associated with many chaitable trusts including the Clyde Navigation Trust , the Women's Friendly Society of Scotland , the Carnegie Trust and the Stevenson Citizenship Trust . He was knighted in 1936 , KBE in 1948 and GBE in 1962 . He died in London on 15 January 1965 .
Source: University of Glasgow records and Dictionary of National Biography.
From the guide to the Papers of Sir Hector James Wright Hetherington, 1888-1965; Knight, university vice-chancellor, Principal 1936-1961, Professor of Moral Philosophy 1924-1927, University of Glasgow, Scotland, 1905-1975, (Glasgow University Archive Services)
