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

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