John Behan (educationist)

Sir John Clifford Valentine Behan KBE (8 May 1881 – 30 September 1957), the first Rhodes Scholar from the state of Victoria, was an Australian educationalist and lawyer, the second warden of Trinity College at the University of Melbourne, and "beyond the college life [at Trinity,] he was a sound and far-seeing secretary in Australia of the Rhodes Scholarship Trust for 30 years from 1922 to 1952".[1]

Sir
John Behan
Behan c.1918
Born
John Clifford Valentine Behan

8 May 1881
Footscray, Victoria, Australia
Died30 September 1957(1957-09-30) (aged 76)
Olinda, Victoria
NationalityAustralian
EducationCaulfield Grammar School
University High School
Alma materUniversity of Melbourne
University of Oxford
Occupation(s)Educationist and lawyer
Known forFirst Victorian Rhodes Scholar
Warden of Trinity College, Melbourne

Family

The ninth and youngest child, and the fifth son of William Behan (1837–1930)[2][3] and Phoebe Hannah Behan (née Gundry, 1845–1900)[4][5] John Clifford Valentine Behan was born at Footscray, Victoria, on 8 May 1881.[6]

On 30 July 1907, Behan married Violet Greta Caldwell (1881–1963).[7][8][9][10][11]

Education

Secondary education

Behan was educated at Caulfield Grammar School (1894–1895: he was dux in 1895),[12][13][14] and at Thomas Palmer's "University High School" (1896) in Melbourne.[15][16][17]

Melbourne University

Behan attended the University of Melbourne where he studied law and was awarded the Supreme Court Prize for being the top law student in his graduating class. He graduated Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) on 9 April 1904.[18] On 21 April 1923 he was awarded a Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree by the university.[19][20] In 1924 a version of his 1922 LL.D. dissertation, "The Use of Land as Affected by Covenants and Obligations not in the form of Covenants", was published.[21]

Oxford University

Behan studied for both his Bachelor of Arts in jurisprudence and Bachelor of Civil Law degrees at Hertford College at the University of Oxford.[22][23] He was admitted to the Middle Temple of the Inns of Court and was a fellow of University College at Oxford, lecturing in law. He became dean of the college in 1914.[24][25][26]

Rhodes Scholarship

Behan was the first recipient of a Rhodes Scholarship designated for an Australian student. He was selected as the Rhodes Scholar for Victoria in 1904.[27] The selection committee for the Victorian Rhodes scholarship — Sir Reginald Talbot (Governor of Victoria), Sir John Madden (Chief Justice of Victoria), Arthur Sachse (Victorian Minister of Public Instruction), Frank Tate (Victorian Director of Education) and Baldwin Spencer (president of the professorial board of the University of Melbourne) — determined that the closing date for applications would be 23 June 1904.[28]

At the close of applications there were fourteen candidates. Nine of the applicants, those who "were considered to have the best claims", were interviewed, and six of those "were regarded by the committee as fully complying with the requirements as laid down by the late Mr. Cecil Rhodes". Of those six, three (each of whom "had a brilliant record") made the final list: Behan, the future Olympian, and 1905 Rhodes Scholar Harvey Sutton and Behan's cousin, Edward Percival Oldham.[29] After "long consideration" by the committee a ballot was held, and "Mr. Behan was unanimously selected the first Rhodes scholar for Victoria."[30]

In relation to Behan and Rhodes' second selection requirement — namely, "his fondness of and success in manly outdoor sports, such as cricket, football and the like"[31] — the selection committee noted that:

The fact that [Behan] has had to earn his own living has debarred him from taking an active part in competitive athletics; but he laid before the selectors evidence that he has manifested fondness for and entered into manly sports and games.

At its 14 July 1904 meeting, the Trinity College council, having been officially informed of Behan's selection, resolved:

"That the council expresses to Mr Behan its great pleasure at his selection as the first Rhodes scholar for Victoria, and its confidence that his career at Oxford will confer further honour upon Trinity College, and that the council also offer its congratulations to the warden, tutors and students of Trinity upon this notable addition to the list of distinctions won by members of the college." — The Argus, 18 July 1904.[32]

By early July, "there [was] a feeling of dissatisfaction among a section of the students of the University and others interested in the subject regarding the selection of Mr J.C V. Behan for the Rhodes scholarship";[33] and, on 14 July 1904, a meeting of the University of Melbourne Sports Union unanimously passed a resolution, critical of the 1904 selection of Behan (i.e., of the conduct of the selection process, rather than of Behan himself):[34]

"That in the interests of future candidates for the Rhodes scholarship, this council respectfully expresses its regret that the 1904 selection has been made on principles which make it possible for a person having no interests outside the scholastic and intellectual side of University life to represent the state as the Rhodes scholar." — The Examiner, 18 July 1904.[35]

The same meeting passed a second unanimous resolution recommending that, in relation to the "fondness for and success in manly outdoor sport" requirement, "in the selection of a Rhodes scholar the only admissible evidence of fondness for and success in manly sports should be certificates given by bona-fide athletic committees, clubs, or associations, and stating the actual qualifications and performances of the candidate".[36] A similar resolution, in relation to future selection criteria, was passed by the Victorian Amateur Athletic Association on 20 July 1904,[37] and, on 27 August 1904, following a football match between the Adelaide and Melbourne universities, in his address to the Melbourne team, the captain of the Adelaide University team, the Norwood and SAFL interstate footballer Dean Dawson[38] stated that,

"Speaking as an individual, and not officially, he very much sympathised with the young men of Melbourne in the emphatic protest, they had made respecting the choice of the Victorian Rhodes scholar. When he said that he referred not only to the matter of the protest, but to the manner in which it had been made by men who had been careful not to utter a word of unkindness towards the young man who had been chosen, but only to establish their own position, which seemed to be on a sound basis. All manly sports should be promoted at the universities, if only to give an opportunity to competitors for the Rhodes scholarship to become athletically proficient." — The Advertiser, 29 August 1904.[39]

Warden of Trinity College, Melbourne

Behan was warden of Trinity College, Melbourne, for 28 years, from May 1918—when he succeeded Alexander Leeper, who had been warden for 42 years[40]—until his retirement in May 1946.[41][42][43] He had studied at the college on a scholarship during his undergraduate education and was the first alumnus of the college to become its head. He is the second longest-serving warden of Trinity College.

Knighthood

He was made a knight bachelor upon his retirement.[44] Not only was the award of his honour announced in the 1949 New Year Honours List along with that of Don Bradman,[45] but also, both his and Bradman's investiture — by William McKell, the Governor-General of Australia — took place in the same ceremony at Queen's Hall, Parliament House, Melbourne, on 15 March 1949.[46][47]

Death

Behan died suddenly, at Olinda, Victoria, on 30 September 1957.[48][49]

See also

References
  1. Oldham, John, Letter to the Editor: "The Late Sir John Behan", The Age (Melbourne), 3 October 1957, p.2.
  2. "Obituary: Mr W. Behan", The Sydney Morning Herald, 19 June 1930, p. 8.
  3. "Eventful Career: Late Mr W. Behan", The Northern Star (Lismore), 19 June 1930, p. 11.
  4. "Married: Behan—Gundry", The Geelong Advertiser, 5 March 1865, p. 2.
  5. "Deaths: Behan", The Argus (Melbourne), 2 June 1900, p. 9.
  6. "Behan, Sir John Clifford Valentine (1881–1957)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 7.
  7. "Weddings", The Leader (Melbourne), 3 August 1907, p. 46.
  8. "Miss V. Greta Caldwell (Mrs. J.C.V. Behan)", Punch, 8 August 1907, p.27.
  9. "Miss V. Greta Caldwell (Mrs. J.C.V. Behan), and her Bridesmaids", Punch, 8 August 1907, p.27.
  10. Mr. J.C.V. Behan (Bridegroom), First Victorian Rhodes Scholar", Punch, 8 August 1907, p.27.
  11. "Deaths: Behan", The Age (Melbourne), 30 December 1963, p. 9.
  12. Years May Pass On ... Caulfield Grammar School, 1881–1981 by Horace Webber, Caulfield Grammar School (1981), p. 272.
  13. "School Speech Days: Caulfield Grammar School", The Argus, 21 December 1895, p. 15.
  14. "Matriculation Examination: 35, John Clifford Valentine Behan, C.G.S.", The Australasian, 2 January 1897, p. 33.
  15. The "University High School" was a private school, conducted by Thomas Palmer from 1882 to 1898 (when he became the headmaster of Wesley College), located at the intersection of Madeline and Grattan streets, Carlton (see: "University High School", The Corowa Free Press, 26 April 1895, p. 8.)
  16. The Victorian state school, also known as University High School, did not commence operation until 1910.
  17. "About People", The Age', 30 November 1917, p. 8.
  18. "The University: Commencement: List of Degrees", The Weekly Times, 16 April 1904, p. 23.
  19. "Personal", The Argus, 13 December 1922, p. 18.
  20. "University Commencement: Graduates Receive Degrees: The Successful Graduates: Doctor of Laws", The Age, 23 April 1923, p. 8.
  21. "New Books: Dr Behan's Legal Thesis", The Argus, 5 April 1924, p. 11.
  22. "Rhodes Scholars: Australians at Oxford: Notable Successes Achieved", The Herald, 10 July 1906, p. 1.
  23. "Rhodes Scholars: Australian Successes", The Argus, 11 July 1906, p. 7.
  24. "Return of a Rhodes Scholar: Mr. Behan Interviewed: Appointment as University Lecturer", The Advertiser, 15 July 1907, p. 11.
  25. "About People", The Age, 16 December 1914, p. 10.
  26. "Honoured by Oxford", The Herald, 17 December 1914, p. 1.
  27. University of Melbourne (2009). Rhodes Scholars Elected for Victoria Archived 6 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  28. "The Rhodes Scholarship: Regulations for Election", The Argus, 9 June 1904, p. 6.
  29. The son of Behan's mother's sister, Rebecca Elizabeth Oldham, née Gundry (1846–1935), Oldham was Behan's first cousin.
  30. "Rhodes Scholarships: Mr J. C. V. Behan Selected", The Argus, 30 June 1904, p. 7.
  31. "The Rhodes Education Scheme", The Age, 12 May 1902, p. 7.
  32. "Personal", The Argus, 18 July 1904, p. 5.
  33. "Victorian Rhodes Scholarship: Dissatisfaction Expressed", The Ballarat Star, 7 July 1904, p. 3.
  34. 'The Athlete', "All Round", The Weekly Times, 23 July 1904, p. 18.
  35. "Rhodes Scholar: Protest by Melbourne University Sports Union Council: Mr Rhodes's Trustees to be Approached", The Examiner (Launceston), 18 July 1904, p. 6.
  36. "The Rhodes Scholarships: University Students' Action", The Argus, 15 July 1904, p. 5.
  37. "Rhodes Scholarship: Athletic Association Protest", The Argus, 21 July 1904, p. 5.
  38. Obituary: Dr. Dean Dawson: Famous Noorwood Footballer, The (Adelaide) Advertiser, (Monday, 20 March 1939), p.15.
  39. "Football: Melbourne University versus Adelaide University: A Victory for the Visitors", The Advertiser (Adelaide), 29 August 1904, p. 6.
  40. "Trinity College Warden: Mr J. C. V. Behan Appointed", The Argus, 29 November 1917, p. 6.
  41. "Those whom the King has Honoured in 1949: Knights Bachelor: Sir John Behan", The Argus, 1 January 1949, p. 2.
  42. "The Retiring Warden", The Fleur-de-Lys, Vol. 5, No. 46, December 1946, Melbourne: Trinity College, pp. 5—7, plus portrait facing p. 32.
  43. "The Second Warden's Portrait", Trinity College Newsletter, Vol.1, No.17, July 1982, Melbourne: Trinity College, pp. 6—7.
  44. "Behan, John Clifford Valentine" Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Australian Honours (2006). Retrieved 12 June 2006.
  45. "New Year Honors", The Age, 1 January 1949, p. 1.
  46. "3 Knighthoods Conferred at Investiture", The Argus, 16 March 1949, p. 6.
  47. "Sir John Behan", The Age, 16 March 1949, p. 2.
  48. "Deaths: Behan", The Age (Melbourne), 1 October 1957, p.13.
  49. "Sir John Clifford Valentine Behan", The Fleur-de-Lys, November 1957, Melbourne: Trinity College, pp. 5—8.

Further reading
Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Behan (educationist).
  • Behan, J.C.V. (1924), The Use of Land as Affected by Covenants and Obligations not in the form of Covenants, London: Sweet & Maxwell.
  • Webber, Horace (1981). Years May Pass On... Caulfield Grammar School, 1881–1981. Centenary Committee, Caulfield Grammar School, (East St Kilda). ISBN 0-9594242-0-2.
  • Thomson, D. (1993), "Great Australian Educators: Sir John Behan: Victoria's first Rhodes Scholar", Unicorn: Bulletin of the Australian College of Education, 19(4), pp. 92-95.
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