Alexander Gordon McKay
Encyclopedia
Alexander Gordon "Sandy" McKay, OC
, FRSC
(December 24, 1924 – August 31, 2007) was a Canadian
academic who specialized in Vergilian
studies.
Born in Toronto
, Ontario
, McKay graduated from Upper Canada College
in 1942. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1946 from the University of Toronto
, a Master of Arts degree in 1947 from Yale University
, a A.M. degree in 1948 from Princeton University
and a Ph.D in 1950 from Princeton. He started his academic career as an instructor at Princeton University from 1947 to 1949. He then taught at Wells College
(1949-1950), the University of Pennsylvania
(1950-1951), the University of Manitoba
(1951-1952), Mount Allison University
(1952-1953), Waterloo College (1953-1955), and again at the University of Manitoba (1955-1957).
He started teaching at McMaster University
in 1957. He was appointed an Associate Professor in 1959, a full professor in 1961, and retired as a Professor Emeritus in 1990. He was chair of Classics from 1962-68 and from 1976-79. From 1968 to 1973, he was the founding dean of the Faculty of Humanities.
He was president of the Royal Society of Canada
from 1984 to 1987.
After his retirement from McMaster University
in 1990, he taught at York University
in Toronto
as Adjunct Professor of Humanities from 1990 until 1996.
, the Canadian Centennial Medal
, and the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal
. In 1988, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
in recognition for being a "distinguished scholar, educator and humanitarian". He received honorary degrees from the University of Manitoba (1986), Brock University (1990), Queen's University (1991), McMaster University (1992), and the University of Waterloo (1993).
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, FRSC
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
(December 24, 1924 – August 31, 2007) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
academic who specialized in Vergilian
Virgil
Publius Vergilius Maro, usually called Virgil or Vergil in English , was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He is known for three major works of Latin literature, the Eclogues , the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid...
studies.
Born in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, McKay graduated from Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College , located in midtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is an independent elementary and secondary school for boys between Senior Kindergarten and Grade Twelve, operating under the International Baccalaureate program. The secondary school segment is divided into ten houses; eight are...
in 1942. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1946 from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, a Master of Arts degree in 1947 from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, a A.M. degree in 1948 from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and a Ph.D in 1950 from Princeton. He started his academic career as an instructor at Princeton University from 1947 to 1949. He then taught at Wells College
Wells College
Wells College is a private coeducational liberal arts college located in Aurora, Cayuga County, New York, on the eastern shore of Cayuga Lake. Initially an all-women's institution, Wells became a co-ed college in Fall 2005....
(1949-1950), the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
(1950-1951), the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
(1951-1952), Mount Allison University
Mount Allison University
Mount Allison University is a primarily undergraduate Canadian liberal arts and science university situated in Sackville, New Brunswick. It is located about a half hour from the regional city of Moncton and 20 minutes from the Greater Moncton International Airport...
(1952-1953), Waterloo College (1953-1955), and again at the University of Manitoba (1955-1957).
He started teaching at McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
in 1957. He was appointed an Associate Professor in 1959, a full professor in 1961, and retired as a Professor Emeritus in 1990. He was chair of Classics from 1962-68 and from 1976-79. From 1968 to 1973, he was the founding dean of the Faculty of Humanities.
He was president of the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
from 1984 to 1987.
After his retirement from McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
in 1990, he taught at York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
as Adjunct Professor of Humanities from 1990 until 1996.
Honours
In 1965, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. He was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee MedalQueen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 1977 to mark the 25th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II...
, the Canadian Centennial Medal
Canadian Centennial Medal
The Canadian Centennial Medal is a commemorative medal struck by the Royal Canadian Mint in 1967 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation and was awarded to Canadians who were recommended by governments and professional, educational and cultural associations, as well as...
, and the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal
125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal
The 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal is a commemorative medal struck by the Royal Canadian Mint celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada...
. In 1988, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in recognition for being a "distinguished scholar, educator and humanitarian". He received honorary degrees from the University of Manitoba (1986), Brock University (1990), Queen's University (1991), McMaster University (1992), and the University of Waterloo (1993).
Selected works
- Naples and Campania, 1962
- Victorian Architecture in Hamilton, 1967
- Vergil's Italy, 1970
- Ancient Campania, Vols. I and II, 1972
- Houses, Villas, and Palaces in the Roman World, 1975
- Vitruvius, Architect and Engineer, 1978
- Römische Haüser, Villen, und Paläste, 1980
- Roma Antiqua, Latium & Etruria, 1986