Julius MacLeod:
MacLeod, Julius (Oostende 1857 – Gent 1919). Professor of botany at the State University of Gent, Liberal Flamingant and committee member of the Willems Foundation. MacLeod made a great contribution to the spread of Dutch-language scholarship and science in Flanders as publicist of popularized scientific works and as the driving force behind the renowned Flemish Natural and Medical Science Conferences – which was soon followed by other Flemish academic conferences – and University Extension, a scheme which was aimed at bringing higher education within the reach of the common man. MacLeod´s proposals for the gradual Dutchification of the University of Gent, which excluded the associated technical colleges, were overtaken by the more radical ideas of Lodewijk de Raet. In the years before the First World War, MacLeod distanced himself from the traditional political parties.

close window