English Language

Although English Language had long been taught as a component of Rhetoric and Belles-Lettres a distinct lectureship in the subject was only set up in 1919, with the first appointee being Bruce Dickins (1889-1978).

The Forbes Chair of English Language and General Linguistics was instituted in 1947, with Angus McIntosh (1914-2005) being the first appointee the following year. Following the creation of a discrete Chair of General Linguistics in 1964, the post became the Forbes Chair of English Language.

Professors of English Language

• 1948-1979: Angus McIntosh (1914-2005)
• 1979-1988: James Peter Thorne (1933-1988)
• 1990-2004: Charles Jones (1939- )
• 2005-2011: April McMahon
• 2013- : Bettelou Los

Sources

• Alexander Falconer Giles, 'The Faculty of Arts', in A. Logan Turner (ed.), History of the University of Edinburgh 1883-1933 (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1933), pp. 164-238.
• University Calendar