Sir James Adam Louis Matheson KBE CMG was a British engineer and university administrator, who served as the first Vice-Chancellor of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.
14 Facts About Louis Matheson
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In 1960, at just 47 years old, Louis Matheson became the first Vice-Chancellor of Monash University, a position he held until 1976.
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Louis Matheson assembled staff, established courses, and set up faculties, teaching and research facilities.
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When Monash opened, Louis Matheson led and oversaw rapid development, from an empty site in Clayton, to a university recognised internationally for excellence in research and teaching.
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Louis Matheson managed the tumultuous years of student activism at Monash in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
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Louis Matheson was often criticised by some of the more radical students, but succeeded in maintaining strong academic standards throughout.
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Beyond his work at Monash, Louis Matheson oversaw the development of two universities in Papua New Guinea, and was Chancellor of the University of Papua New Guinea from 1973 to 1975.
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Louis Matheson was active in a number of research and professional organisations in Australia.
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Louis Matheson was a Foundation Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and President of the Institution of Engineers.
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Louis Matheson received numerous distinguished awards for his achievements at Monash.
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Louis Matheson received Honorary Doctorates from Hong Kong, Manchester, Melbourne and Monash Universities.
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Louis Matheson was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1972, and a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1976 for services to education and services to Victoria.
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In 1989, Louis Matheson suffered a stroke which confined him to a wheelchair for the remainder of his life.
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Louis Matheson's widow died on 16 November 2014, aged 100.