Head and shoulders image of John W. Eaton, Department of German, 1913-1929.

Bio/Historical Note: John Wallace Eaton was born in Lancaster, Lancashire, England, in 1886, and, together with his son, Michael Bigelow, age 5, lost his life by drowning near Ann Arbor, Michigan on December 26, 1948. Eaton's education followed the tradition of British gentility. His public schools were Emmanuel College, London, and St. Andrew's College, Dublin. From 1904 to 1909, he attended Trinity College, Dublin, and received the degree of Bachelor of Arts there. His further education was obtained at the Sorbonne, at Heidelberg, at the University of Marburg, and at the University of Munich. He received the degree of Master of Arts from Trinity College, Dublin, in 1912, and in 1929 his alma mater conferred on him the degree, Doctor of Letters, honoris causa. His teaching experience in the field of modern languages was acquired in many schools. He began his career in 1908 in the Oberrealschule, Kattowitz, Germany, as English reader. From 1909-1910 he was English reader in the Lycee of Beauvais, France. From 1910 to 1912 he was assistant lecturer in German and French in the University of Bristol, England. In 1912 he emigrated to Canada and taught for a year at Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario. Accepting a call to the University of Saskatchewan, he served there from 1913-1929 as Professor of German and Head of the German Department. He came to the University of Michigan in 1929 as Professor of German and Chairman of the Department of German. In 1935 Eaton resigned from the Chairmanship. While continuing to teach, he extended his interest to College administration. This activity preoccupied him until the day of his tragic death.