BURN, MARGARET GORDON (1825-1918) was born at Edinburgh, the daughter of Alexander Huie, and educated at the Circus Place School under Dr Reid and in languages under private tutors. She was for some time governess in the family of Sir William Jackson, of Liverpool. On the death of her father (in 1852) she came to Victoria and opened a small private school at Geelong. In 1857 she married Andrew Burn (who was a master at Scots College and later head of the Presbyterian School at Geelong). Her husband's health failing in 1864, Mrs Burn opened a new high school for girls on the lines of the one in Circus Place. In 1870 she was selected from a large number of applicants as the first lady principal of the Otago Girls' High School. Under her skilful management and capable teaching the school in 14 years attained a high degree of efficiency. She retired in 1884, but shortly afterwards accepted the same position in the Waitaki Girls' High School at Oamaru, where she was for five years. Mrs Burn was deeply religious and charitable and a strict disciplinarian. She died on 8 Dec 1918. Her son, DAVID WILLIAM

Cycl. NZ, iv.

Reference: Volume 1, page 76

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