John A. Gilruth

John Anderson Gilruth FRSE (17 February 1871 – 4 March 1937) was a Scottish-Australian veterinary scientist and administrator. He is particularly noted for being Administrator of the Northern Territory from 1912 to 1918, when he was recalled after an angry mob demanded that he resign. This incident is known as the Darwin Rebellion.

From left: Minister Josiah Thomas, Sir Walter B. Barttelot and Administrator John Gilruth in 1912.

Early life and education

John Anderson Gilruth[1] was born in Auchmithie near Arbroath on 17 February 1871, the son of Andrew Gilruth.[2]

He was educated at Arbroath High School and the High School of Dundee, then served two years as clerk to an Arbroath solicitor before going to Glasgow Veterinary College, now the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Glasgow in 1887. He was admitted to membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, London, in 1892.[3]

Career

After qualifying, Gilruth then accepted appointment as a government veterinary surgeon in New Zealand and moved there in 1893. He spent three years investigating stock diseases, then went to Paris, France, to spend a year studying bacteriology at the Pasteur Institute.[3]

In 1896, on returning to New Zealand, he was appointed chief veterinarian and government bacteriologist. He was appointed to a royal commission on public health and subsequently, in 1901, pathologist in the new Department of Public Health.[3]

In 1907 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh; his proposers were Frederick Hobday, Sir John McFadyean, John Berry Haycraft, and Sir Edward Albert Sharpey-Schafer.[2]

In 1908, he accepted the foundation chair of veterinary pathology at the University of Melbourne.[3] He retired in 1935.[3]

Publications

Gilruth published many studies and articles on veterinary research in professional journals.[3]

Recognition

In 1933 he was elected president of the Australian Veterinary Association, and in 1936 was awarded honorary membership.[3]

Death and legacy

Gilruth died of a respiratory infection on 4 March 1937 at his home at South Yarra, Melbourne.[3]

Several entities were named in his honour:

  • Gilruth Plains, a research station near Cunnamulla, Queensland, Australia[3]
  • Gilruth Prize, the "most prestigious award" of the Australian Veterinary Association[4]
  • Gilruth Avenue, Darwin[3][5]

A portrait of Gilruth, painted by Will Longstaff, hangs in the Australian Animal Health Laboratory in Geelong, Victoria.[3]

Personal life

Gilruth married Jennie McKay[6] (née McLay) on 20 March 1899 at Dunedin, New Zealand. A son and two daughters survived him.[3]

References
  1. Waterston, Charles D; Macmillan Shearer, A (July 2006). Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783-2002: Biographical Index (PDF). Vol. I. Edinburgh: The Royal Society of Edinburgh. ISBN 978-0-902198-84-5. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
  2. Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002 (PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. ISBN 0-902-198-84-X. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  3. Powell, Alan, "Gilruth, John Anderson (1871–1937)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 30 December 2021
  4. "AVA Awards Program". Australian Veterinary Association. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  5. "Gilruth Ave · Darwin NT 0820, Australia". Google Maps. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  6. Nightingale, Tony. "Gilruth, John Anderson". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 30 December 2021.

Further reading
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