William C. Leggett

William C. Leggett, CM, PhD, LLD, DSc, FRSC (born 1939) served as the 17th Principal of Queen's University from 1994 to 2004. Dr. Leggett is also a Professor of Biology at Queen's, with research focusing on the dynamics of fish populations. He is the author/co-author of over 170 peer reviewed scientific publications. He was only the second scientist to hold the Principalship. Leggett's term as Principal was notable for his strong leadership and his insistence on measuring Queen's against the highest national and international standards.

Leggett grew up in Orangeville, Ontario, and received his B.A. from Waterloo University College (which is now Wilfrid Laurier University) in 1962. He then studied Zoology at the University of Waterloo, from which he obtained his M.Sc. in 1965, and McGill University, where he received his Ph.D. in 1969. Leggett had a long and successful career at McGill:he was appointed an Assistant Professor in 1970, a full Professor in 1979, and was then made Chair of Biology (1981), Dean of Science (1986) and Vice-Principal of Academics (1991).

Leggett's tenure at Queen's saw the largest capital renewal program in the University's 160-year history, including Chernoff Hall, Goodes Hall, Beamish-Munro Hall, Leggett Hall and Watts Hall and expansion of the Agnes Etherington Art Gallery. In the same time period, Queen's moved to a clear leadership position in Canada in the participation of students in international study programs. Under his leadership Queen's also successfully completed the largest fund-raising campaign in its history, more than doubled its research funding, and strenthened its leadership position in Canadian post-secondary education.

Leggett's work, both in biological science and as a leader in Canadian education, has resulted in numerous national and international awards, including membership in the Order of Canada, honorary degrees from several Canadian universities, Fellowship in the Royal Society of Canada, the Fry Medal of the Canadian Society of Zoologists, the Award of Excellence in Fisheries Education, the Oscar A. Sette Award and the Award of Excellence from the American Fisheries Society.