 He was registered as a teacher in 1879 and taught at Clydesdale College, Hamilton, then tutored privately.Littlejohn's father and brother had emigrated to New Zealand, and in 1881 they obtained nominated passages for the rest of the family.William Littlejohn was mathematics and science master at Nelson College from 1882 to 1898, and headmaster for five years from 1899 to 1903.