Difference between revisions of "Appointment of William Robertson as Principal of Edinburgh University, 1762"
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New Professorships that were established under Robertson include: | New Professorships that were established under Robertson include: | ||
− | *[[ | + | *[[Natural History]] (1767) |
− | *[[ | + | *[[Materia Medica]] (1768) |
− | *[[ | + | *[[Astronomy]] (1786) |
− | *[[ | + | *[[Agriculture]] (1790) |
The Chair of [[Botany]] was elevated to a Regius Professorship, and a new Botanical Garden was opened in 1763. | The Chair of [[Botany]] was elevated to a Regius Professorship, and a new Botanical Garden was opened in 1763. |
Latest revision as of 11:10, 2 March 2016
The appointment of William Robertson (1721-1793) as Principal in 1762 was pivotal in turning Edinburgh University into a major centre of Enlightenment thought.
Intitally working in conjunction with the The Lord Provost of Edinburgh, George Drummond (1688-1766), his major administrative reforms included reactivating the Senatus Academicus, reforming the degree structure and curriculum, and establishing a Library Fund.
New Professorships that were established under Robertson include:
- Natural History (1767)
- Materia Medica (1768)
- Astronomy (1786)
- Agriculture (1790)
The Chair of Botany was elevated to a Regius Professorship, and a new Botanical Garden was opened in 1763.
Improvements to University buildings included a new extension for the University Library, a new natural history museum, and plans for a new college building which would only see fruition after Robertson's death.
Robertson's influence proved vital in elevating the academic standing of the University throughout Britain and Europe. A roll-call of major appointments under his Principalship includes:
- Joseph Black (1728-1799)
- John Bruce (1745-1826)
- William Cullen (1710-1790)
- Andrew Dalzel (1742-1806)
- Adam Ferguson (1723-1816)
- Alexander Fraser Tytler (1747-1813)
- James Gregory (1753-1821)
- John Gregory (1724-1773)
- Francis Home (1719-1813)
- Alexander Monro "secundus" (1733-1817)
- John Playfair (1748-1819)
- John Robison (1739-1805)
- Daniel Rutherford (1749-1819)
- Dugald Stewart (1753-1828)