James Reid

James Reid was appointed Public Professor of Metaphysics at Edinburgh University in 1620.

Biography

Reid studied under John Adamson (1576–1651?) at Edinburgh University and graduated MA in July 1600. He returned to the University as a Regent on 21 December 1603, and became one of the fledgling University's longest-serving teachers. He tutored no fewer than six classes through to graduation in 1606, 1610, 1614, 1618, 1622, and 1626. According to Thomas Craufurd, this was a 'flourishing time of the Universitie’, as Reid and his fellow regents were 'both able and painful [i.e. conscientious]'. They acquired ‘much authority’ through the combination of 'long experience' and 'knowledge'. As the country itself was enjoying 'a deep calme of peace', the 'followers of learning' were offered 'many great occasions of encouragement'. On 19 July 1617, Reid was one of the regents commanded by King James to participate in a disputation before him at Stirling Castle. Craufurd writes that Reid disputed 'anent the Original of Fountains', prompting the King to pun that 'Mr. Reid needs not be red with blushing for his acting to-day'. In 1620, Reid was appointed Public Professor of Metaphysics, which required him to give two public lectures a week, in addition to his duties as Regent of Philosophy. At the same time Andrew Ramsay was appointed Professor of Divinity and Reid's long-standing colleague Andrew Young was appointed Public Professor of Mathematics. This was a small but significant step towards specialization and the creation of a faculty system.

Reid left the University in controversial circumstances. One of the Ministers of Edinburgh, William Struthers, had referred disparagingly to Philosophy in a public address as 'the dish-clout of Divinity'. Reid responded in a thesis propounded at a graduation ceremony in which he noted that 'Aristippus said he would rather be a Christian philosopher, than an unphilosophical divine'. Struthers was highly offended and persuaded his fellow Ministers to support him in a complaint to the Town Council. Although Reid was well-liked by the Council, and obtained a mandate from the Privy Council ordering them to retain him in office, he was forced to resign. Craufurd writes that he was still living in his seventy-fifth year, and opines that 'if he had been painful [conscientious] in study, he had proved an eminent philosopher; and was beyond few in oeconomical and civil abilities'.

Archives at Edinburgh University

• Signatures, 29 July 1600 (as student), 30 June 1606, 28 July 1610, 30 July 1614, 25 July 1618, 27 July 1622, 29 July 1626 (as regent), First Laureation & Degrees Album, Edinburgh University Archives (EUA IN1/ADS/STA/1/1)

Sources

• A Catalogue of the Graduates in the Faculties of Arts, Divinity, and Law, of the University of Edinburgh since its Foundation (Edinburgh: Printed by Neill and Company, 1858)
• Thomas Craufurd, History of the University of Edinburgh, from 1580 to 1646: To Which is Prefixed the Charter Granted to the College by James VI of Scotland, in 1582 (Edinburgh: Printed by A. Neill & Co., 1808)
• Sir Alexander Grant, The Story of the University of Edinburgh during its First Three Hundred Years, 2 vols (London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1884)