Education and professional development

John Davidson did not receive any degrees at Marischal College, but he did write exams to become a teaching assistant. During his time at the college, he acted as secretary for the Aberdeen Workingmen’s Natural History and Scientific Society and eventually assumed the role of vice-president. He lectured before the Aberdeen Photographic Association and the Free Greyfriars Mutual Improvement Association. In addition, Davidson operated the limelight lantern while other speakers gave their own presentations.

Although Davidson’s responsibilities continued to increase, in 1908 two incidents ended his progress:

1. A change in procedure prevented Davidson from being promoted to assistant professor from his original position as teaching assistant. As Davidson himself wrote about the situation:
   

   I was informed by the Professor [Trail] that my knowledge and experience qualified me for the post, but that since my appointment it had gradually become the “unwritten law” in Aberdeen for candidates to have a Degree in the subject they were to teach, and this constituted a technical barrier to my promotion.

   To overcome this obstacle, the much-disappointed Davidson began to take classes toward a bachelor of science degree.

2. Trail published the results of Davidson’s laboratory work as his own.