SIMMONS, FRANK CHURCHILL (1829-76) was born in Guernsey, the son of Captain F. F. Simmons, R.A., and was educated at Rugby under Dr Tait and at Lincoln College, Oxford, where he graduated M.A. He was ordained to the ministry and for some years conducted a large school at Dundee. In 1863 he was appointed rector of the Otago Boys' High School, and he took up the post in May 1864. He was very popular, and excelled as a teacher of English history and classics, but his opinions brought him into controversy. In writing to the Bishop of Brechin, he criticised the religious organisations of the province with a freedom which caused widespread offence when his letter was published. As a result of the ensuing controversy, Simmons resigned in 1867 and was appointed to Nelson College (1868). There also he was very successful as a teacher, especially of English language and literature. He took a leading part in the movement to make university education available to students in the provinces, and proposed in 1865 that scholarships should be established by the Government to enable New Zealanders to attend universities in England. A select committee of Parliament approved the proposal, but R. Campbell proposed the creation of a university, which was provided for by a provincial ordinance of Otago (1869).

Simmons died suddenly on 16 May 1876. He had considerable literary ability and a graceful style. He contributed to the Otago Daily Times and for some time edited the Colonist. A biographer wrote that "it fell to him to realise the undeniable hardness of colonial life and society."

Nelson Coll. Reg.; Otago HS. Reg.; Otago Daily Times, 1 Dec 1870, 5 Jun 1876; The Colonist, 16 May 1876; Beaglehole.

Reference: Volume 2, page 154

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