John Marden

Dr. John Marden B.A., LL.D (9 April 1855–29 October 1924) was an Australian Headmaster, pioneer of women's education, and Presbyterian elder. April 9 is the 99th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (100th in leap years). ... 1855 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... October 29 is the 302nd day of the year (303rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar). ... In the UK and elsewhere, a head teacher is the most senior teacher in a school. ... Presbyterianism is part of the Reformed churches family of denominations of Christian Protestantism based on the teachings of John Calvin which traces its institutional roots to the Scottish Reformation, especially as led by John Knox. ... Elder (religious) redirects here. ...

Early life, training and career

Born in Prahran, Melbourne, Marden was the fifth child of English parents, John Marden, a butcher, and his wife Catherine, née Murphy. He was educated at the The Geelong College and the University of Melbourne, where he graduated as a Master of Arts in Mathematics and Physics.^[1] Prahran (pronounced puh-RAN) and also known colloquially as Pran is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ... The City of Melbournes coat of arms The central business district of Melbourne, viewed from the north Alternate meanings: Melbourne (disambiguation) Melbourne is the capital and largest city of the state of Victoria, and the second largest city in Australia, with a population of 52,117 in the Central... This article is about the English as an ethnic group and nation. ... The Geelong College is a co-educational day and boarding private school located in Geelong, Australia. ... The Old Quad Building, formerly Old Law The University of Melbourne, located in Melbourne, Victoria, is the second oldest university in Australia, and the oldest in Victoria. ...

Whilst completing his law degree, Marden married a schoolteacher, Jane Armstrong at Cape Clear, on the 20th of December 1883. He also returned to his old school, The Geelong College, this time as a teacher under notable educator George Morrison, moving to the Methodist Ladies' College, Melbourne as a Science master three years later.^[2] Cape Clear is a small town located in Victoria, Australia. ... (Redirected from 20 December) December 20 is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1883 (MDCCCLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Methodist Ladies College (commonly referred to simply as MLC) is an independent school for girls in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and is now one of the largest and well-known independent girls schools in the state. ...

In July 1887, the committee of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New South Wales advertised far and wide for an appropriate principal for its new school, The Presbyterian Ladies' College in Sydney. Marden applied for the position and was unanimously selected "because of his high academic standing, his experience and success in teaching and his high Christian character".^[1] He opened the school with 39 students on the 7th of January 1888, at "Fernlea", a fourteen-roomed gentleman's residence in Ashfield (the current site of the Masonic Hospital), with Miss M. McCormick as lady superintendent.^[1] 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. ... General assembly could be: The United Nations General Assembly General Assembly (presbyterian church), a supreme governing body, such as the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland See also List of Christian denominations#Presbyterian and Reformed Churches The General Assembly of Unitarian... The Presbyterian Church of Australia is the largest Presbyterian denomination in Australia. ... The Presbyterian Ladies College, Sydney (P.L.C Sydney), is a private day and boarding, Presbyterian school for girls in Croydon, New South Wales, Australia. ... This is about the city of Sydney in Australia. ... Year 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Ashfield (pop. ...

In 1890, after his examination in jurisprudence, the University of Sydney conferred on him the degree of LL.D. That year the College had outgrown the Ashfield site and so the Presbyterian Church in New South Wales purchased Anthony Hordern III's house, 'Shubra Hall', at Croydon. There Marden consolidated the new school and, keenly interested in horticulture, laid out beautiful gardens and playing fields.^[2] 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar). ... Jurisprudence is the theory and philosophy of law. ... The University of Sydney, established in Sydney in 1850, is the oldest university in Australia. ... Anthony Horderns was a large department store in Sydney, Australia, which was originally established in 1825 as a drapery shop by a family descended from convicts from the First Fleet. ... Croydon is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. ...

In 1916, due to the overwhelming popularity of the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney, and under Marden's guidance, the school bought fifty acres at Pymble for £15,000 and established a second campus, 'The Presbyterian Ladies' College, Pymble' (now Pymble Ladies' College). Both campuses were administered until 1929 by a single council. Marden was headmaster of both schools until ill health forced his resignation in 1919.^[1] 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... The Presbyterian Ladies College, Sydney (P.L.C Sydney), is a private day and boarding, Presbyterian school for girls in Croydon, New South Wales, Australia. ... Pymble is a suburb in the North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. ... Pymble Ladies College, (known as P.L.C or Pymble), is an independent, non-selective, day and boarding school for girls in Pymble, New South Wales, Australia. ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ...

Marden administered both of his schools with firm discipline, kindness, understanding and generosity, and winning the respect and affection of his pupils, strongly influenced them. He believed that women should share in opportunities for secondary and tertiary education, and also hold high Christian ideals. Although trained as a lawyer, he gave physics, chemistry and biology a prominent place at a time when few schools included much science in the curriculum. He also instituted a 'house system' in both schools.^[2] In his later years he was assisted by a prominent educational innovator, Dr E. Neil McQueen, a scientist and an ardent advocate of the Dalton plan for education, who later succeeded him at the Croydon College.^[2] Students attend a lecture at a tertiary institution. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Christianity. ... English barrister 16th century painting of a civil law notary, by Flemish painter Quentin Massys. ... Physics (Greek: (phúsis), nature and (phusiké), knowledge of nature) is the science concerned with the fundamental laws of the universe. ... This article or section includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The House System is a traditional feature of British schools, similar to the collegiate system of a university. ... Dr E. Neil McQueen Dr Ewen Neil McQueen M.A.,D.Sc. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Dalton Plan is an educational concept created by Helen Parkhurst. ...

Retirement and death

Upon his retirement, Marden purchased a residence at Wentworth Falls where he spent his leisure time and holidays and exercised his horticultural skills. Marden was active in the Presbyterian Church, serving as an elder at Ashfield for 28 years, and for his last six years at Wentworth Falls.^[2] Wentworth Falls (, elevation 867 metres) is a village in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales located 100 kilometres west of Sydney, and about 8 kilometres east of Katoomba, Australia. ...

Marden died at Randwick on 29 October 1924 and was buried in South Head Cemetery. His wife, son and three daughters survived him.^[2] Randwick, New South Wales is a City (Local Government Area) and suburb of Sydney, Australia. ...

Legacy

The Marden Memorial Library at the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney, and Marden Boarding House at Pymble Ladies' College are named after him.^[1] The Presbyterian Ladies College, Sydney (P.L.C Sydney), is a private day and boarding, Presbyterian school for girls in Croydon, New South Wales, Australia. ... Pymble Ladies College, (known as P.L.C or Pymble), is an independent, non-selective, day and boarding school for girls in Pymble, New South Wales, Australia. ...

References

• Alan Dougan, 'Marden, John (1855 - 1924)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 10, Melbourne University Press, 1986, pp 407-408.
• McFarlane, J. 1998. The Golden Hope: Presbyterian Ladies' College, 1888-1988. P.L.C Council, Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney. ISBN 0-9597340-1-5.
• PLC Sydney: Principals. Retrieved on 2007-04-19.

2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... April 19 is the 109th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (110th in leap years). ...

Notes

External links

• Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney website
• Pymble Ladies' College website