Physics
Origins
The Chair of Natural Philosophy formed part of the Faculty of Arts when it was established as a distinct entity in 1708. The first Professor, Robert Stewart (1675–1758) had among his students for 1724, David Hume (1711-1776). He was succeeded by his son, John Stewart (d1759).
A second Chair was established in 1924, in memory of Peter Guthrie Tait (1831-1901). It was later retitled the Chair of Mathematical Physics.
Professors
Chair of Natural Philosophy
Sir Robert Stewart (1675–1758), 1708-1742
John Stewart (d1759), 1742-1759, son of previous
Both were Baronets of Coltness (4th and 5th respectively) but neither assumed the title.
Adam Ferguson (1733-1816), 1759-1764
James Russell (c1720–1773), 1764-1773
John Robison (1739-1805), 1774-1805
John Playfair (1748-1819), 1805-1819
Sir John Leslie (1766-1832), 1819-1832
James David Forbes (1809-1868), 1833-
Peter Guthrie Tait (1831-1901), 1860-1901
James Gordon MacGregor (1852-1913, 1901-1913
Charles Glover Barkla (1877-1944), 1913-1944
Norman Feather (1904-1978), 1945-1975
William Cochran (1922-2003), 1975-
Tait Chair of Natural Philosophy
Originally the second Chair was unnamed
Charles Galton Darwin (1887-1962), 1924-1936
Max Born (1882-1970), 1936-1952
Chair retitled: Tait Chair of Mathematical Physics
Nicholas Kemmer (1911-1998), 1953-1979
Sir David James Wallace (1945-), 1979-1993
Richard Kenway, 1994-
Chair of Theoretical Physics
Peter Higgs, 1980-1996
Arjun Berera