Agriculture

The Chair of Agriculture at the University of Edinburgh was established within the Faculty of Arts in 1790 and was Britain's first. It was endowed by Sir William Pulteney (1729-1805). The first to hold the Chair was Andrew Coventry (1764-1832), nominated by Pultney himself.

Coventry resigned in 1831 and was succeeded by David Low (1786-1859). Another applicant was Edinburgh graduate, political agitator Robert Gourlay (1778-1863).

When Low resigned the Chair in 1854, his successor was John Wilson (d1888)

The fourth Professor was Robert Wallace (1853-1939). During Wallace's tenure, Agriculture moved into the newly-established Faculty of Science.

Professors of Agriculture (and Rural Economy)

Andrew Coventry (1764-1832), 1790-

David Low (1786-1859), 1831-1854

John Wilson (d1888), 1855-

Robert Wallace (1853-1939), 1882-1922

Sir Stephen Watson (1898-1976)

Noel Fairnie Robertson (1923-1999), 1969-1983

Sources

• Fleming, Ian J. & Robertson, Noel F., Britain's First Chair of Agriculture at the University of Edinburgh, 1790-1990 (East of Scotland College of Agriculture, 1990)