William Sloan Cormack facts for kids

William Sloan Cormack (born November 24, 1898 – died November 30, 1973) was a British educator and political activist. He was known for leading a college and for his work in education and politics.

Early Life and Education

William Cormack was born in Maryhill, a part of Glasgow, Scotland. He left school when he was 14 years old. After leaving school, he started an apprenticeship to become an engineer. This meant he learned a trade by working alongside experienced engineers.

Even though he worked during the day, William continued to study at night school. His hard work allowed him to get into the Royal Technical College. Later, he went to the University of Glasgow. In 1921, he earned a degree in mechanical engineering.

Beliefs and World War I

William Cormack was a pacifist, just like his parents. A pacifist is someone who believes that all war and violence are wrong. Because of his beliefs, he was against World War I.

In 1918, William was a conscientious objector. This means he refused to join the military because of his strong moral or religious beliefs. He spent some time in Wormwood Scrubs prison. However, he later agreed to work at Dartmoor Prison instead. He was released in 1919. After this, he joined the Independent Labour Party, a political group.

Career and Politics

After finishing his engineering degree, William Cormack first worked as an engineering draughtsman. A draughtsman draws detailed plans for machines and structures. He then decided to become a teacher and trained at Jordanhill College.

He worked as a teacher at Newport Technical College and later as a schoolteacher. William also became involved in politics. He ran for the Labour Party in two elections:

• In 1924, for Aberdeen and Kincardine East.
• In 1929, for Glasgow Hillhead.

He did not win either election.

In 1930, William Cormack earned a doctorate degree from the University of Glasgow. His special study was about the history of shipbuilding and engineering in Scotland. For a few years, he worked for the Workers' Educational Association. This group helps adults continue their education.

Leading Stow College

In 1935, William Cormack became the principal of the new Stow College of Engineering. A principal is the head of a college or school. He led the college for many years, until 1964. During his time there, the college grew a lot. It went from being new to having 9,000 students!

He was also very active in the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS). This is a professional group for educators in Scotland. In 1945, he was made a Fellow of the EIS, which is a special honor.

Later Life

William Cormack retired in 1964 and moved to Edinburgh. He joined the Fabian Society, another political group. He also spoke out against the Common Market, which was a group of European countries working together. William Cormack passed away suddenly in 1973.