in may 1882, he was appointed science master at gordon’s college, aberdeen, where he remained for four years before being appointed principal of heriot-watt college in edinburgh in may 1886. in addition, in 1887, he commenced work as professor of applied physics at the college. ogilvie’s "work for the heriot-watt college gave a great stimulus to technological education, and many men [sic] who subsequently filled important posts were trained in that school. he knew most of his students personally, and in after life followed their careers with great interest" ("proceedings of the royal society of edinburgh").