Charles Niven married Mary Stewart, the second of five daughters of Sir David and Lady Stewart of Banchory and Leggart.

Niven oversaw the introduction of the BSc and PhD degrees, the introduction of women students, the teaching of Medical Physics and other changes in the University. He taught for 42 years, a period that saw the discovery of X-rays and radioactivity, the invention of the gramophone, the radio, motor-cars both diesel and petrol, electric lighting and power for public use and even the first steps towards television.

Niven organised the move of the Natural Philosophy Department from King’s College Aberdeen to larger premises at Marischal College that had facilities for more students to engage in practical work.

There was no ‘retirement age’ then nor a national pension scheme and Niven worked until 1922 when he became seriously ill. He retired aged 77 but did not recover from his illness, dying on 11th May 1923.

Over his lifetime, Charles Niven had a hugely successful career in academia.

 

There is in inscription on the gravestone as follows…

“Here lie the remains Chares Niven F. R. S. D.Sc. (Dubl) LLD, Senior Wranger 1867 Fellow of Trinity College Cambridge 1868 – 1877 Professor of Mathematics Queens College, Cork 1867 – 1880 and thereafter 42 years Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University of Aberdeen. Born in Peterhead September 14th 1845 died in the Chanonry Old Aberdeen May 11th 1923.

In 1917 during the great European War he exponed to the Admiralty for the destruction of the submarines, the theory of the location of sound in water,

Also of his eldest daughter Alice Margaret born 17th May 1888, died 16th May 1894, to whose memory her grandfather Sir David Stewart inscribed a tablet in the mausoleum he erected in this churchyard,

and of his youngest daughter Mary Stewart born 10th March 1895 – died 23rd December 1937. Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy,

and of his wife Mary second daughter of Sir David and Lady Stewart of Banchory Leggart, born 28th November 1865 – died 8th November 1954. There shall be no night there,

and of his daughter Lucy Barbara born 10th August 1890 – died 17th December 1959, she shall be praised,

and of his son Charles David Niven M.A. B. Sc. Ph.D. Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, born July 16th 1897 – died in Ottawa Canada Sept 30th 1968. I know that my redeemer liveth”.