William Robertson | |
|---|---|
_-_Reverend_William_Robertson_(1721%25E2%2580%25931793)%2c_Historian_and_Principal_of_Edinburgh_University_-_PG_1393_-_National_Galleries_of_Scotland.jpg) Portrait painting of William Robertson, byJoshua Reynolds | |
| Principal and Vice-Chancellor of theUniversity of Edinburgh | |
| In office 1 February 1762 – 11 June 1793 | |
| Preceded by | John Gowdie |
| Succeeded by | George Baird |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1721-09-19)19 September 1721 Borthwick,Midlothian, Scotland |
| Died | 11 June 1793(1793-06-11) (aged 71) Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Nationality | British |
| Scientific career | |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
| Known for | Principal of the University of Edinburgh Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland Historiographer Royal |
| Fields | History |
William Robertson (19 September 1721 – 11 June 1793) was a Scottish historian, cleric, and educator who served asPrincipal of the University of Edinburgh, Chaplain ofStirling Castle, and one of theKing's Chaplains in Scotland.
Robertson made significant contributions to the writing ofScottish history and thehistory of Spain and Spanish America, and his historiographical approach had considerable contemporary influence (particularly his emphasis on the consistency of human nature across different eras and societies).[1][2] He was a notable figure in theScottish Enlightenment, as well as a prominent representative of theChurch of Scotland'smoderate party.[3]
Robertson was born at themanse ofBorthwick,Midlothian, the son ofRev William Robertson (1686–1745), the local minister, and his wife Eleanor Pitcairn, daughter of David Pitcairne of Dreghorn.[4][5] He was educated at Borthwick Parish School andDalkeith Grammar School. The family moved to Edinburgh when his father became appointed minister of Lady Yester's Church in 1733. His father moved to OldGreyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh in 1736.[6]
He studied divinity at theUniversity of Edinburgh (1733–41), and was licensed to preach in 1741. He received a Doctor of Divinity in 1759.[7]
The educationalist and writerJames Burgh, who founded adissenting academy on the outskirts of London, was his cousin, describing him as his "much esteemed friend and relation".[8]
He became minister at Gladsmuir (East Lothian) in 1743 and in 1759 atLady Yester's Kirk andGreyfriars Kirk inEdinburgh. A staunchPresbyterian andWhig, he volunteered to defend the city against theJacobites led by PrinceCharles Edward Stuart in 1745.
In 1754, he was elected an original member ofThe Select Society, also referred to as the Edinburgh Select Society.[9]
Robertson became royal chaplain toGeorge III (1761), principal of theUniversity of Edinburgh (1762),Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1763, andHistoriographer Royal in 1764, reviving a role within the Royal household in Scotland that had been in abeyance from 1709 until 1763. One historian has written of Robertson's tenure as Principal of the University of Edinburgh that "the thirty years during which [he] presided over the University perhaps represent the highest point in its history."[10]
He was also a member ofThe Poker Club.[11]
One of his most notable works is hisHistory of Scotland 1542–1603, begun in 1753 and first published in 1759.[12] With multivolume history of Spain, Robertson was recognized by the Spanish authorities, and elected to Spain's Royal Academy of History. The work was translated in Spain, with extensive additions from archival sources to which Robertson had no access. A Spanish reviewer of the draft translation of theHistory of America (1777) took issue with Robertson's claims and the translation was never published.[13][14] HistorianD.A. Brading describes Robertson's history as "the first sustained attempt to describe the discovery, conquest and settlement of Spanish America since Herrera'sDécadas."[15] His biography ofCharles V "provided a masterly survey of the progress of European society, in which he traced the erosion of the 'feudal system' caused by the rise of free towns, the revival of learning and Roman law, and by the emergence of royal authority and the balance of power between states. It was the development of commerce, assisted by law and private property, which was held to be chiefly responsible for the advance in civilisation."[16]
In 1783, he became a founding member of theRoyal Society of Edinburgh.
He died ofjaundice[17] on 11 June 1793, at Grange House in south Edinburgh (the large, now-demolished mansion which gave its name to theGrange district).[9] Robertson is buried atGreyfriars Kirkyard,Edinburgh. The grave is within a large stone mausoleum, second only toWilliam Adam's mausoleum immediately to the south. Both stand to the south-west of the church, near the entrance to the Covenanters' Prison.
He gives his name to the William Robertson Building of the Old Medical School buildings at the University of Edinburgh on Teviot Place, home to theSchool of History, Classics and Archaeology. There is also an endowed chair at Edinburgh in his name, the William Robertson Chair of History, for a specialist in non-European modern history.[18]
Robertsonmarried his cousin Mary Nisbet (daughter ofRev James Nisbet ofOld Kirk, St Giles) in 1751.[6] They had six children, two daughters and four sons. Three of his children are buried inGreyfriars Kirkyard in individual plots behind their father's mausoleum:
One of his daughters, Mary, married the authorPatrick BrydoneFRSE.[4][19] In 1778 his daughter, Eleanora (or Eleanor) Robertson, married John Russell[4]WSFRSE (1753–1792), a Director of theRoyal Bank of Scotland. Their children included John Russell WS FRSE (1780–1862), Principal Clerk of Session.[20]
He was great uncle toDr William Robertson FRSE (1818-1882).
| Preceded by | Principal, University of Edinburgh 1762–1793 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |
