Obituaries Australia

George Morrison, n.d.

State Library of Victoria, H31955

Dr. George Morrison, M.A., the highly respected principal of the Geelong College, died suddenly this morning.

He had attended the classroom in the morning for the purpose of taking a class, but feeling somewhat unwell handed over his pupils to another master, and retired to his private residence, where he expired almost immediately.

Some five years ago Dr. Morrison had a very severe attack of influenza, and although he took a trip to Europe for his health, he never really recovered his former vitality.

Dr. Morrison possessed sterling qualities which greatly endeared him to his scholars, for whose advancement he laboured with unflagging zeal. He was born in Morayshire, Scotland, on the 11th December, 1830, and had therefore completed his 67th year. He was educated in the Elgin Academy, Scotland, of which his brother, Mr. D. Morrison, now rector of the Glasgow Academy, was then headmaster. Having gained a valuable scholarship,tenable for four years at Aberdeen, he entered that University, and was admittedly the most distinguished student of his course. He carried the highest honours from year to year during his course, and in his final year earned the highest honour in the power of the senators of the Aberdeen University to award, namely, the Simpson Scholarship of £60, for distinguished attainments in mathematics and physics. He also carried the Hutton prize, bestowed after the examination in Greek, mathematics, natural and moral philosophy. It will be thus seen that unlike most students in studying for honours, the late Dr. Morrison devoted equal attention to classics, mathematics, and natural philosophy, carrying the highest prizes in all.

His first appointment was as mathematical master in the Naval and Military Academy, Gosport, near Portsmouth, where cadets are prepared for the army and navy. He emigrated to Victoria at the end of 1858, and was for about half-a-year mathematical master in the Scotch College, Melbourne, of which his brother, Dr. Alexander Morrison is the principal. He next filled the position of head master of the National Grammar School, Geelong, and in 1861 was appointed first principal of the Geelong College, under a committee of management of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria. The collegiate building was then an unpretentious structure situated in Skene-street, Newtown. Dr. Morrison carried on the college for a few years under the arrangement mentioned, and then severed his connection with the management. Finding the accommodation of the college premises totally insufficient, Dr. Morrison in 1871 erected the present buildings at a cost of £12,000. During the last five years he had associated with him as vice-principal his son, Mr. C. N. Morrison, M.A. Mr. H. B. Higgins, M.L.A., is a son-in-law of the deceased, and his son, Dr. G. E. Morrison, is the representative in China of "The Times."