| Early Rectors |
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1808-1876 Initially the position of rector was largely symbolic. It was not until the later nineteenth century as schools grew larger that headmasters gained status and increasingly became important as managers. Consequently many of the early rectors are shadowy figures compared to later ones. The first of the parish schoolmasters to be known as rector of the grammar school was John Duncan, who was appointed in 1779. His successor, William Thomson, appointed in 1797, was also the first rector of Kilmarnock Academy when the grammar school and the burgh school were merged to form the new institution The early rectors of Kilmarnock Academy were: William Thomson 1808-1830 Alexander Harkness 1830-1851 William Taylor 1851-1852 Alexander Smith 1852-1869 George Younger 1869-1873 George Smith 1873-1876 |
