He was born on 20 March 1875. He was educated at
Spier's School in
Beith,
North Ayrshire. He graduated MA from
Glasgow University in 1895. He was a Snell Exhibitioner in 1895 and Logan Medallist in 1897. He then went to
Balliol College, Oxford. He taught successively at
Greenock Academy,
Campbeltown Grammar School,
Perth Academy and
Glasgow High School in 1904. He was elected a Fellow of the Educational Institute of Scotland in 1917. When he left
Hutchesons' Grammar School in November 1919 he was presented with a volume of Richard Jebb's Essays and Addresses, signed by 33 members of the staff, as well as an etching and a silver salver. In 1925 he was elected a Fellow of the
Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were James Watt,
David Brown Dott,
Ralph Allan Sampson and
John Mathieson. He resigned in 1939. In 1932
Glasgow University awarded him an honorary doctorate (LLD). A prominent mason he was Permanent Secretary of the
Grand Lodge of Scotland from 1941. He retired in March 1940, remaining in Edinburgh. He died on Saturday 15 November 1952 at
Edinburgh Royal Infirmary having been struck by a tram on 1 October. His daughter, Dorothy King Gillies, was headmistress of Grantham High School for Girls. ==Publications==