Italian

Italian has been formally taught at Edinburgh University since 1919, when John Purves (1877-1961) was appointed Lecturer. Purves was made Reader in Italian in 1938 and was succeeded in that post by Mario Manlio Rossi (1895-1971) in 1947. The Chair of Italian was created in 1962 with Rossi the first appointee.

Professors of Italian

• 1962-1966: Mario Manlio Rossi (1895-1971)
• 1966-1988: Charles Peter Brand
• 1988-1995: Lino Pertile (1940- )
• 1996-2009: Jonathan Usher