15 Facts About Ernest Scott

Sir Ernest Scott was an Australian historian and professor of history at the University of Melbourne from 1913 to 1936.

Ernest Scott was educated at St Katherine's Church of England School, Northampton and worked as a journalist on the London Globe.

On 7 May 1892 Scott married Mabel Emily Besant, daughter of Rev Frank and Annie Besant, the theosophist; they had one child, Muriel.

In 1892 Ernest Scott migrated to Australia, where he joined the staff of The Herald newspaper, edited the Austral Theosophist and lectured.

Mabel returned to England in 1909, taking their daughter Muriel, but Ernest Scott did not sue for divorce until 1915.

From 1895 to 1901 Ernest Scott was a member of the Victorian Hansard staff, and from 1901 to 1914 was on the Commonwealth Hansard staff.

In 1913 Ernest Scott was appointed Professor of History at the University of Melbourne, even though Ernest Scott had never attended a university.

Ernest Scott had shown ability both in research and as a lecturer, and the experiment proved a great success.

Ernest Scott retired in 1936, was knighted in June 1939 and died of a coronary thrombosis on 6 December 1939.

Ernest Scott was above medium height, bluff and open in manner.

Ernest Scott was much interested in music, the drama and poetry, in which he had read widely.

Ernest Scott had a sound knowledge of his own subject, and was an industrious and fast worker.

Ernest Scott did much to bring Australian history to life.

Ernest Scott did not always carry out his urgent advice to his students that they should "verify their references" and consequently errors will be found in some of his books.

Ernest Scott had a human interest in his students and no trouble was too great for him if it would help them in their work.