William Robertson (historian)

William Robertson
Portrait painting of William Robertson, by Joshua Reynolds
Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh
In office
1 February 1762 – 11 June 1793
Preceded byJohn Gowdie
Succeeded byGeorge Baird
Personal details
Born(1721-09-19)19 September 1721
Borthwick, Midlothian, Scotland
Died11 June 1793(1793-06-11) (aged 71)
Edinburgh, Scotland
NationalityBritish
Alma materUniversity of Edinburgh
Known forPrincipal of the University of Edinburgh
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Historiographer Royal
Scientific career
FieldsHistory
The mausoleum of William Robertson, Greyfriars Kirkyard

William Robertson (19 September 1721 – 11 June 1793) was a Scottish historian, cleric, and educator who served as Principal of the University of Edinburgh, Chaplain of Stirling Castle, and one of the King's Chaplains in Scotland.

Robertson made significant contributions to the writing of Scottish history and the history 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 the Scottish Enlightenment, as well as a prominent representative of the Church of Scotland's moderate party.[3]

  1. ^ R. A. Humphreys, William Robertson and his History of America. London 1954.
  2. ^ Broadie, Alexander, ed. (1997). The Scottish Enlightenment: an anthology. Canongate classics (1st publ ed.). Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-0-86241-738-3.
  3. ^ Shefr, R. B., Church and Society in the Scottish Enlightenment: The Moderate Literati of Edinburgh, Princeton, 1985.

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