Sir Ian Macarthur (1916-1923)

Sir Ian Hannay Macarthur (1906-1975) was the first pupil to be enrolled at Scots College in 1915; his grandfather, W.M. Hannay, was a member of the first Board of Governors. Sir Ian’s brother Colin and his half-brothers Alister and Ross also attended the College.

While at Scots, Ian was the embodiment of the All-Round Man, twice receiving the Pattie cup for "merit in classroom and field." In 1923, he was Head Prefect and Dux and the school’s second recipient of a University Entrance Scholarship.

Ian was also an all-round sportsman. While at Scots, he captained the 1st XI cricket team and the tennis team. He played in the 1st XV, served on the athletic and swimming committees, and was a keen member of the cadet corps, winning the McKelvie Cup for shooting in 1921. Hockey wasn’t introduced to Scots until 1953, but Ian took it up at university and went on to represent Wellington from 1928-1935.

In the cultural domain, Ian was a member of the College brass band, acted in drama productions, and was piano accompanist for the school choir. In 1920, he was a member of the founding Editorial Committee for The Scot, which is still going today!

Ian studied at Victoria University, graduating with a Master of Laws in 1931. He worked at a law firm in Auckland before setting up on his own in Wellington from 1935-1940.

During World War II, he served as a major in the New Zealand Army with the Second Expeditionary Force’s Third Division in Fiji and the Solomons. After the war, he held a number of professional appointments: he was a member of the Council of Legal Education, an examiner in the Law of Contracts for the University of New Zealand, and president and treasurer of the Wellington District Law Society. He was a partner in Chapman Tripp in Wellington until 1959, when he was appointed to the Supreme Court in Christchurch. Lawyers of the time speak of him as a compassionate and courteous judge. In 1974, he received a knighthood for his service to the legal profession. Sir Ian died suddenly in Christchurch in 1975.

Throughout his life, Ian maintained an interest in Scots’ affairs. He was president of the Old Boys Association between 1935 and 1937, and served on the Board of Governors from 1937 until 1940. He always spoke of his years at the school with gratitude for the broad opportunities that were available to him, and for the values that were instilled in him – respect, honesty, and fairness. In 2004, the Junior School’s Macarthur House was named after him.

Sir Ian achieved much in an outstanding legal career and is an excellent example to others.

Photo thanks to the New Zealand Law Society

Sir Ian Hannay Macarthur (1906-1975) was the first pupil to be enrolled at Scots College in 1915; his grandfather, W.M. Hannay, was a member of the first Board of Governors. Sir Ian’s brother Colin and his half-brothers Alister and Ross also attended the College.

While at Scots, Ian was the embodiment of the All-Round Man, twice receiving the Pattie cup for "merit in classroom and field." In 1923, he was Head Prefect and Dux and the school’s second recipient of a University Entrance Scholarship.

Ian was also an all-round sportsman. While at Scots, he captained the 1st XI cricket team and the tennis team. He played in the 1st XV, served on the athletic and swimming committees, and was a keen member of the cadet corps, winning the McKelvie Cup for shooting in 1921. Hockey wasn’t introduced to Scots until 1953, but Ian took it up at university and went on to represent Wellington from 1928-1935.

In the cultural domain, Ian was a member of the College brass band, acted in drama productions, and was piano accompanist for the school choir. In 1920, he was a member of the founding Editorial Committee for The Scot, which is still going today!

Ian studied at Victoria University, graduating with a Master of Laws in 1931. He worked at a law firm in Auckland before setting up on his own in Wellington from 1935-1940.

During World War II, he served as a major in the New Zealand Army with the Second Expeditionary Force’s Third Division in Fiji and the Solomons. After the war, he held a number of professional appointments: he was a member of the Council of Legal Education, an examiner in the Law of Contracts for the University of New Zealand, and president and treasurer of the Wellington District Law Society. He was a partner in Chapman Tripp in Wellington until 1959, when he was appointed to the Supreme Court in Christchurch. Lawyers of the time speak of him as a compassionate and courteous judge. In 1974, he received a knighthood for his service to the legal profession. Sir Ian died suddenly in Christchurch in 1975.

Throughout his life, Ian maintained an interest in Scots’ affairs. He was president of the Old Boys Association between 1935 and 1937, and served on the Board of Governors from 1937 until 1940. He always spoke of his years at the school with gratitude for the broad opportunities that were available to him, and for the values that were instilled in him – respect, honesty, and fairness. In 2004, the Junior School’s Macarthur House was named after him.

Sir Ian achieved much in an outstanding legal career and is an excellent example to others.

Photo thanks to the New Zealand Law Society