View source for Appointment of William Carstares as Principal of Edinburgh University, 1703

[[File:Edi uni eu 0003 624x544.jpg | border | 250 px | right | thumb | [[William Carstares (1649-1715)]] by John Aikman, ca. 1712, University of Edinburgh Art Collection (EU0003)]]The appointment of [[William Carstares (1649-1715)]] as [[Principal]] of Edinburgh University in 1703 initiated a programme of reforms designed to remodel the 'Tounis College' in the image of Dutch universities such as Leiden. This laid the foundation for Edinburgh to develop into one of the major universities of Enlightenment Europe.

Under Carstares, the [[Opening of Edinburgh University, 1583#The Regenting System|Regenting System]], was abolished in favour of a professorial system that assigned each of the subjects on the curriculum to a single professor. The Faculties of [[Faculty of Arts|Arts]] and [[Faculty of Law|Law]] were constituted, and new chairs were established in [[Public Law]], [[Civil Law]], [[Anatomy]], and [[Chemistry]].

After the death of Carstares in 1715, his reforms were continued by [[William Wishart "primus" (1660-1729)]] and [[George Drummond (1688-1766)]].

== Key Events of Carstares's Principalship ==

*[[Seizure of College Records by Town Council, 1704]]
*[[Foundation of Faculty of Law, 1707]]
*[[End of Regenting System, 1708]]
*[[Foundation of Faculty of Arts, 1708]]

== Sources ==

*[[Alexander Bower (fl. 1804-1830)|Alexander Bower]], ''The History of the University of Edinburgh''. 3 vols. Edinburgh, 1817-1830.
*[[Sir Alexander Grant]], ''The Story of the University of Edinburgh during its First Three Hundred Years'', 2 vols (London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1884)
[[Category:Events|Appointment of William Carstares as Principal of Edinburgh University, 1703]][[Category:Incomplete|Appointment of William Carstares as Principal of Edinburgh University, 1703]]