Burwash, Nathanael

Nathanael Burwash was born in St. Andrews, Quebec, in 1839 and entered Victoria College, Cobourg as a prepatory student in 1852, graduating in 1859 after an interruption to allow his younger brother the funds to enrol. He was ordained in 1864 and continued his education at Yale (Science) and Garrett Biblical Institute of Evanston, Illinois (Theology) and received his M.A. from Victoria in 1866. Burwash began his teaching career at Victoria, lecturing in the natural sciences and in 1871 began teaching theology as well as science courses – two years later he was appointed Dean of the new Faculty of Theology and in 1877 helped set up the Theological Union of Victoria, an organization designed as a postgraduate extension of theological study. In 1887, Burwash was named Chancellor and President – he held these positions until 1913, and continued to teach doctrinal history until his death in 1918.