University of Melbourne Archives

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Records Creators
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Creator:
Hearn, William Edward
Date of birth: 21 April 1826
Place of birth: Belturbet, Cavan, Ireland
Date of death: 23 April 1888
Place of death: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Biography: Born in Ireland in 1826, Hearn was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. In 1849 he was appointed Professor of Classics at Queen's College, Galway, and later held office of Examiner to the Queen's University of Ireland. In 1854 he was one of the four Professors appointed at the opening of the University of Melbourne. His field covered modern history, modern literature, political economy and logic. When the Professor of Classics, Henry Erskine Rowe, died less than a month after arrival in Melbourne, Hearn conducted classes in classics until Professor Irving arrived in July 1856. In January 1859 Hearn offered himself as a candidate in a by- election for the Murray District in the Legislative Assembly but was defeated, and the University Council afterwards passed a statute to prevent Professors from sitting in Parliament. He was a member of the University Council 1882-1886, and Chancellor May-October 1886. He became Dean of Law in July 1873, resigning his professorship in other subjects at the end of the year. After a defeat at the polls in 1874, he was elected to the Legislative Council in 1878. He died in Melbourne in April 1888. Sources: Australian Dictionary of Biography Vol 4
Activities/Occupation: Academics - Classics, Politicians, Chancellors
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