Died: 31 March 1964 in Edinburgh, Scotland

William Gentle's father was William Gentle (born in Dundee in 1838; died in 1890) who was a letterpress printer. His mother was Marion Drummond Brand (born in Torryburn, Fife in 1843; died in 1929). William Gentle had two older siblings: Alexander (born about 1866) and Margaret (born about 1874).

William Gentle began his school education in Dundee, attending Rosebank School, Dundee, from 1885 to 1887, then Morgan Academy, Dundee, 1887 to 1889. His family moved to Edinburgh in 1889 (moving to 2 Blackwood Crescent) and he completed his schooling at George Heriot's Hospital School. He took the Edinburgh University Leaving Certificate examinations in 1896, passing Mathematics, English, and Dynamics at the Higher level, and Latin at Lower level. After having passed the Preliminary Examination, he first matriculated at Edinburgh University in October 1896.

After matriculating at Edinburgh University, Gentle had an outstanding undergraduate career winning bursaries and prizes. He chose not to take an M.A. but opted instead to take only a B.Sc. degree which was a bold move at a time when it was seen principally as an addition to the traditional M.A. degree. He took courses in Mathematics in 1896-97, Natural Philosophy and Chemistry in 1897-98, Geology from Professor Geikie in 1898-99 and 1899-1900, then Mathematics Advanced Honours from Professor Chrystal and Natural Philosophy Advanced Honours from Professor Macgregor in 1901-02. He graduated in April 1903.

Following graduation, Gentle was appointed as a Mathematics and Physics Master at George Heriot's School in Edinburgh. In 1908 the head of Physics at George Heriot's, J B Clark, was appointed as headmaster of the school and Gentle replaced him as Principal Teacher of Physics at a salary of £250 per annum.

Gentle took a temporary break in his career when he signed up for war service during World War I. However he was severely wounded and, after recovering, returned to George Heriot's. He married Jessie Currie Ainslie in 1924. When J B Clark retired as Headmaster in 1926, Gentle was appointed to succeed him. A report of his appointment appeared in The Scotsman on Tuesday 12 January 1926:-

HERIOT'S HEADMASTER
MR J B CLARK'S SUCCESSOR FORMER PUPIL APPOINTED

A special meeting of the Heriot Trust Governors was hold in Edinburgh yesterday for the special purpose of appointing a headmaster for George Heriot's School in succession to Mr J B Clark, M.A., F.R.S.E.

The Chairman reported that the Education Committee had considered a remit from the last meeting of the Governors as to the filling up of the vacancy. After carefully considering the matter, the Committee resolved not to advertise for candidates, but, in view of his qualifications and record, to recommend that Mr William Gentle, B.Sc., F.R.S.E., of the School staff, and present Depute-Headmaster, be appointed Headmaster in succession to Mr Clark, as from the commencement of next session at a salary of £1000. They looked forward with very great regret to Mr Clark's retirement, but changes were bound to come, and when vacancies occurred they were bound to be filled. He had very great pleasure in moving the adoption of the recommendation that Mr Gentle be appointed. He was certain that no one could read the record of Mr Gentle without being satisfied that he was undoubtedly fully qualified for the post.

Councillor Adam Millar, who seconded, deplored the passing of Mr Clark from the headmastership, but expressed the opinion that no better choice of a successor could have been made.

Councillor Wilson M'Laren, Sir Thomas Hudson Beare, and Councillor Bruce Lindsay paid like tributes to Mr Clark, and the view was expressed that Mr Gentle would prove a worthy successor. The motion was agreed to unanimously.

Mr Gentle was then called into the meeting, informed of his appointment, and congratulated. In returning thanks, he said it would be no light task to maintain the traditions which had been established by such able men as Mr Clark and the late headmaster, Dr Lowe. Such ability and energy as he possessed would be devoted wholeheartedly to the charge they had committed to his hand.

NEW HEADMASTER'S CAREER

Mr Gentle's early education was obtained at Morgan Academy, Dundee, and at George Heriot's School. In 1896 he entered Edinburgh University, and there, in addition to completing a full course for the B.Sc. degree, broadened his field of study by including a number of extra subjects, such as logic and psychology. In all his classes he obtained class distinctions. In addition to medals and prizes, he was awarded the Newton Bursary in Natural Philosophy, the Neil Arnott Scholarship, the Mackay Smith Scholarship, and the Nichol Foundation. In 1902 he graduated as B.Sc. During part of his University career, and for the first six years after graduating, he acted as assistant in the mathematics and physics department of George Heriot's School, preparing pupils for the honours leaving certificate in mathematics and the intermediate and higher certificates in science.

In 1908 he succeeded Sir Clark as head of the Physics department, and acted in this capacity during a period of rapid extension of the science work of the school. He prepared the general outline, and supervised the fitting up of the physics laboratories which were opened in 1912. Throughout this period he also assisted Mr Clark with the general organisation of the school, and learned to deal with the various problems connected with classification of pupils, arrangement of curricula, distribution of staff, and general administration. Outside school work he took a keen interest in educational matters generally, and acted as president of the Association of Science Teachers of Scotland, and also as president of the local branch of that Association. In 1915 he entered the Army as an officer of the Royal Field Artillery, and during the next two years had a varied and valuable experience as section commander and battery commander. He was wounded by shell fire at the Messines advance, June 1917, and for the rest of the year was in hospital. In 1916, being still unfit active service, and being interested in the experiments carried out by Count Rumford in connection with the feeding of the Bavarian Army, he took up the pressing problem of the feeding of troops. In this he was successful, and his charge, which included the management of the officers' mess, was rapidly increased, until at the end of six months he was asked to undertake the supply and complete distribution for 7000 men.

As regards the Physics department of the school, he had since 1918 developed the work of the department so as to keep in line with the rapid advances which have been made in the subject. In the matter of school management he has continued to assist Mr Clark, and has had a thorough practical experience of the work of organisation and administration. He was president of the Heriot Club from 1920 to 1923, during which time the club was reorganised and the membership increased from about 80 to 700. He has been a monitor of committee of various educational societies, such as the Edinburgh Branch of the Educational Institute of Scotland, the Secondary Teachers' Association, and the Science Teachers' Association. Of the two latter associations he has held the post of president. He was in 1903 elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and in addition a member of the British Association, a member of the Mathematical Society, and an Associate of the Society of Musicians.

Gentle held this post until he retired.

William Gentle was a member of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society, joining in December 1903. He was elected to the Royal Society of Edinburgh on 21 December 1908, his proposers being James Gordon MacGregor, David Fowler Lowe, Thomas Burns, John Brown Clark.

1. W McL Dewar, William Gentle, B.Sc. (Edin.), Royal Society of Edinburgh Year Book 1965, 17-18.
2. Biographical Index of Staff and Alumni (University of Edinburgh).
3. Graduates in Arts, 1884-1925 (University of Edinburgh).
4. Graduates in Arts (University of Edinburgh).

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