John Henry MacFarland

Who was John Henry MacFarland?

Sir John Henry MacFarland was an Irish–Australian university chancellor.

MacFarland was born in Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland and educated at the Royal Academical Institution, Belfast. He then graduated as senior scholar in Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in the Queen's University of Ireland, and then proceeded to St. John's College, Cambridge, where he was elected a foundation scholar.

In 1881, MacFarland became the first master of Ormond College in the University of Melbourne. In 1919, he became chancellor of the university and was knighted the same year.

MacFarland became a director of the National Mutual Life Association c. 1905 and was chairman from 1928. He died in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 22 July 1935.