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4
SUMMER
2013
Like a “mighty wind that blew,” as Protes-
tant MinisterAlexander MacLachlan said,
the Kennedys came into his life and became
his friends and supporters for the next 37
years. Thanks to their generous donations, the
school expanded and thrived.
Meanwhile, and for the fourth time since
its establishment in 1891, the ‘Collegiate
Institute’ changed its name. This would mark
its last time. In 1903, ‘International Col-
lege’ proudly entered the second decade of its
history…
The news couldn’t be worse for MacLach-
lan. Turkish authorities had just informed
him to evacuate one of the leased build-
ings of the school. It appeared that the
landlord found a buyer for the property
and according to Turkish law, sale of
property took precedence over a lease.
This would effectively downsize the school
considerably. It would mean that Ma-
cLachlan would have to dismiss a large
number of students. Not one to take direct
orders, the Protestant minister threw
himself into researching and finding a
loophole in Turkish law. He found it:
Turkish law also granted the tenant the
right to purchase the property.The price
was set at £1200. MacLachlan put in
his personal savings which amounted to
£500. He appealed to the US Board in
Boston for the rest. He was refused. He
sent other letters of appeals and received
no answer. Just as he was beginning to
despair, he received a small note from a
friend. “Why not appeal to some of your
Presbyterian friends?” it said.
“Of course”, MacLachlan thought to
himself. He had many Protestant friends
right here in Smyrna. Among them was
a British friend who had been follow-
ing the progress of International College
with great interest.The friend immedi-
ately came to the rescue and supplied
the needed £700. “I am putting it at your
disposal,” he told the relieved MacLach-
lan “to help the College out of this almost
impossible situation.”
The sale went smoothly enough but the
experience left MacLachlan anxious. He
couldn’t rely on the US board.That had
become clear. He had to find his own
source of funding.
One day he heard that Andrew Carnegie,
a Scottish-American industrialist who led
the enormous expansion of the American
steel industry in the late 19th century and
one of the most important philanthropists
of the time, was seeking worthy causes to
dispose of his great wealth.
MacLachlan felt certain that Carnegie
would be sure to choose his humble school
in Smyrna. Friends tried to dissuade him.
Even John S. Kennedy, now a staunch
friend of IC, wrote and discouraged him
but nevertheless included an introductory
letter to Carnegie. By now, even the Ken-
nedys realized that very little could dissuade
MacLachlan once he got hold of an idea.
For his part, Carnegie had purchased a
12
th
century castle, “Skibo”, a few years
earlier in the Highland county of Suther-
land, Scotland. He had just spent over
£2m in modernizing the crumbling castle
and was immensely proud to take on the
new role of a Scottish laird. (Today, the
castle is an exclusive £1000 a night mem-
bers -only hotel and country club)
It was to this castle that MacLachlan set
his focus. If only Carnegie could hear out
MacLachlan, then he was sure Carnegie
would bequeath a sizeable donation to IC –
thus ending all the school’s financial woes.
Funding the trip proved to be a chal-
lenge. Limited school and personal funds
afforded him a third class ticket on a ship
heading to Marseille. Not really befitting
of a minister but, as MacLachlan put it, “a
midsummer travel in the Mediterranean
is quite as tolerable on the open deck as it
is in a third class cabin below,” he wrote in
his 1937 memoires,
Potpourri of Sidelights
and Shadows from Turkey.
A long slow train journey then brought
him to the north-east coast of Scotland –
still a few miles short of his destination.
Since there was no public transportation in
sight, MacLachlan doggedly set off on foot
to reach the castle. It took him a few hours
on the dusty road but he finally arrived.
The Adventures of
Alexander MacLachlan: