A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography: Being Chiefly Men of the Time: A Collection of Persons Distinguished in Professional and Political Life, Leaders in the Commerce and Industry of Canada, and Successful Pioneers
History
A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography: Being Chiefly Men of the Time: A Collection of Persons Distinguished in Professional and Political Life, Leaders in the Commerce and Industry of Canada, and Successful Pioneers
=McCaul, Rev. John=, D.D., late President of University College,
Toronto, was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1807, and died at Toronto, on
the 16th of April, 1887, in the eighty-first year of his age. He was
educated at Trinity College in his native city, and after a very
successful university career, graduated with the highest honours in
classics. At the request of the authorities of Trinity College, he for
some time filled the post of classical tutor and examiner in that
institution. While occupying this position, he devoted himself
passionately to the pursuit of classical literature, and edited several
editions of recognized value of various Greek and Latin texts. In 1838,
Dr. Harley, then archbishop of Canterbury, hearing of his repute as a
scholar, offered him the principalship of Upper Canada College, in
Toronto, and Mr. McCaul having accepted the office, entered upon its
duties the following year. In 1843, he became the president and
professor of classics, logic, rhetoric and belles-lettres in King’s
College, which by the Act of 1849, became the University of Toronto, and
was freed forever from sectarian control. From that time up to the date
of his retirement, some years ago, from all literary work, Dr. McCaul
uninterruptedly filled the chair of classics in the university, of which
for some years he was also the president. While zealously maintaining
the pre-eminence of his own department, he actively assisted in
introducing into the university curriculum the subjects of modern
languages and natural sciences. His individual work is seen on every
hand in the distinguished men who are to be found in every part of the
province, and who cheerfully acknowledge their indebtedness to the late
lamented president of University College, for the accuracy and
thoroughness of their academic training. Among the works which have been
issued from Dr. McCaul’s pen are exhaustive treatises on the Greek
Tragic Metres and the Horatian Metres; on the Scansion of the Hecuba and
Medea of Euripides; lectures on Homer and Virgil; an edition of
Longinus, of selections from Lucian and Thucydides. His edition of the
Satires and Epistles of Horace has long been looked upon as a standard
one of this favourite author. His researches in Greek and Roman
Epigraphy, and his work on “Britanno-Roman Inscriptions,” and “The
Christian Epitaphs of the First Six Centuries,” entitle him to take high
rank among the greatest classical scholars which the century has
produced. Dr. McCaul married in 1840, Emily, the second daughter of the
late Hon. Justice Jones. His wife, three sons and three daughters
survive him.
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