A Roll of the graduates of the University of Glasgow from 31st December 1727 to 31st December 1897, with short biographical notes

1898·28.5 MB·English

by  Addison, W. Innes (William Innes), 1857-1912

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A ROLL OF THE GRADUATES OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW
PUBLISHED BY
JAMES MACLEHOSE AND SONS, GLASGOW,
Publisherstotheanibersitg.
MACMILLAN AND CO., LTD., LONDON.
NewYork, - TheMacmillanCo.
London, - - Sitnpkin,HamiltonandCo.
Cambridge, Macmillan andBowes.
Edinburgh, - Douglas and Foulis.
MDCCCXCVIII.
)y J-
,
A
Roll of the Graduates
of the
of
University Glasgow
From 3ist December, 1727
To
3ist December, 1897
With Short Biographical Notes
Compiled by
W. Innes Addison
Assistant to the Clerk of Senate
~
Glasgow
&
James MacLehose Sons, 61 St. Vincent Street
Publishers and Booksellers to the University
1898
GLASGOWI PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS
BY ROBERT MACLEHOSE AND CO.
PREFACE
THE present volume is the outcome of two less ambitious schemes.
The Munimenta Alme Universitatis Glasguensis, published in 1854 by
the Maitland Club under the editorship of Mr. Cosmo Innes, contains, inter
alia, chronological Lists of the Laureati or Graduates from the foundation
of the University in 1450-51 down to the close of the year 1727, and an
alphabetical Index Nominum affords the means of easy reference to any name
appearing in these Lists.
The subsequent graduations have been recorded, either in special Registers
cr in the Minute Books, with, on the whole, praiseworthy completeness and
accuracy but as no index of this portion had ever been made, the con-
;
stantly occurring task of tracing individual graduates was always attended
with great labour and much uncertainty.
To remedy this state of matters, the compiler commenced a series of
Indices to the various Registers, but, after proceeding some considerable way,
it occurred to him that the materials which he had collected were worthy ot
better utilization, and that a General Alphabetical Roll of all the Graduates
showing at a glance the several degrees (if more than one) held by each person
would be more serviceable and satisfactory.
This scheme was duly carried out, when a further development suggested
itself, namely, that short biographical notes should, where possible, be appended.
When that had been accomplished in regard to the large majority of the
names, there still remained some the particulars of whose after life could not
be ascertained. In reference to these an attempt was made to discover at
least their parentage or birthplace. The Matriculation Entries, as throwing
light on such points, have, therefore, in many instances been quoted, and in
others the nationalities, as appearing in the Graduation Albums, are subjoined.
PREFACE
VI
The remaining names (pleasingly few in number) represent graduates whose
identity has baffled inquiry.
Curiously enough, no separate Registers of Honorary Degrees were kept
till the foundation of the New University Buildings in 1868. It thus became
necessary to examine all the Minutes of Faculty, Senate, etc., from 1727
downwards, and to make up therefrom the requisite Lists. This inspection
of the records afforded an opportunity of noting a few quaint cases of
discipline, etc., of checking and verifying the contents of the other Graduation
Registers, and, in some early years, of adding names many of them highly
important which had not been recorded in the ordinary books.
The process of compilation has necessarily been attended with somewhat
formidable difficulties. The three chief obstacles were (i) identification or
differentiation in cases where two or more degrees (e.g., M.A. and M.D.) were
granted to persons of the same name at different times ; (2) the ascertainment
of full Christian and middle names a point which had been rather overlooked
in the records ; and (3) the collection of biographical matter.
It was found that the Matriculation Albums from 1728 to 1858 were
unindexed, and to render them serviceable an index of the 17,083 names
which they contain had to be prepared. It was also thought desirable to
index the Old Class Rolls, contained in four large M.S. volumes, and to
collect as many as possible of the Prize Lists prior to the printed set which
commences with 1833. These have accordingly been copied from the Glasgow
newspaper files for a period of 56 years namely, 1777 to 1832.
The great bulk of the biographical information had, however, to be sought
for outwith the academic records. Prior to the commencement in 1859-60 of
a General Council Register, the University preserved little trace ofits graduates,
save in the cases where honorary degrees were conferred, or ordinary degrees
granted in special circumstances. From that date to the institution of a
Parliamentary Register of Council in 1868, the aid afforded by the Registers
was but slight. Even then registration was merely optional, and though, in
1881, it became compulsory, the remissness ofgraduates themselves in announc-
ing changes of address or occupation, and the neglect of representatives to
intimate deaths, have tended greatly to lessen the usefulness of these records
as sources of information. They, and the Registration Books on which they
are founded, have, however, been exhaustively examined, and their contents
have been utilized so far as they seemed reliable.
Besides many individual biographies and other publications (such as
Calendars, Post-Office Directories, newspapers, etc.) occasionally referred to
not to mention Death Registers and Tombstones the following are the