Chair of Mercantile Law, Glasgow
Encyclopedia
The Chair of Mercantile Law is a Professor
ship at the University of Glasgow
, founded in 1919. It has had five holders, including politician Sir John Craik-Henderson
and Robert Jack, one of Scotland's most noted contemporary commercial lawyers, and has been vacant since 1993.
was appointed. Henderson was a graduate of the University and senior partner in Miller Thompson Henderson and Co., and Dean of the Faculty from 1933 to 1935. He was elected Chairman of the Scottish Unionist Association and in 1940 was returned to Parliament for Leeds North East
, at which time he resigned from the Chair.
It was not until 1946 that his successor, John Boyd, was appointed. Boyd, also a graduate of the University, was a partner in Russell & Duncan, and served as Dean of the Faculty of Law from 1947 to 1950, Vice-President of the Law Society of Scotland
from 1954 to 1955 and Dean of the Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow
in 1955. He resigned from the Chair in 1957, and was awarded an LLD in 1958 and knighted in 1961.
In 1963, James Millar was appointed to the Chair. Another graduate of the University, Millar was a partner in Ramsay, Menzies & Wilson, and had previously been a part-time assistant in Evidence and Procedure and held a part-time lectureship in Administrative Law. He was Dean of the Faculty from 1965 to 1968, and appointed CBE
in 1976. He resigned in 1978, when Robert Jack was appointed. Jack was a partner in law firm McGrigor, Donald & Co., and retained this position when appointed to the Chair, being promoted to Senior Partner in 1990. He served on the Scottish Law Commission
, Panel on Takeovers and Mergers
and the Financial Law Panel, and was appointed CBE
in 1988. He served on the Council of the London Stock Exchange
after the Guinness share-trading fraud scandal
, and pressed MP John Maxton
to raise questions in Parliament about the affair in 1997. He retired in 1993, and remains Emeritus Professor. He was awarded an LLD on the University's 550th anniversary celebrations in 2001. The Chair is currently vacant.
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
ship at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, founded in 1919. It has had five holders, including politician Sir John Craik-Henderson
John Craik-Henderson
Professor John James Craik-Henderson was a British Conservative Party politician.Henderson was elected to the House of Commons at a by-election in March 1940, as Member of Parliament for Leeds North East...
and Robert Jack, one of Scotland's most noted contemporary commercial lawyers, and has been vacant since 1993.
History
In 1894, a lectureship in Mercantile Law was established at the University, and in 1919 this was made up to a Chair. The first holder, appointed the following year, was Thomas Grieve Wright, a Glasgow solicitor and co-founder of solicitors' firm Smith & Wright, which went on to become Wright, Johnston and MacKenzie LLP. Wright was Dean of the Faculty of Law 1923 to 1925 and resigned from the Chair in 1930, when John Craik-HendersonJohn Craik-Henderson
Professor John James Craik-Henderson was a British Conservative Party politician.Henderson was elected to the House of Commons at a by-election in March 1940, as Member of Parliament for Leeds North East...
was appointed. Henderson was a graduate of the University and senior partner in Miller Thompson Henderson and Co., and Dean of the Faculty from 1933 to 1935. He was elected Chairman of the Scottish Unionist Association and in 1940 was returned to Parliament for Leeds North East
Leeds North East (UK Parliament constituency)
Leeds North East is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
, at which time he resigned from the Chair.
It was not until 1946 that his successor, John Boyd, was appointed. Boyd, also a graduate of the University, was a partner in Russell & Duncan, and served as Dean of the Faculty of Law from 1947 to 1950, Vice-President of the Law Society of Scotland
Law Society of Scotland
The Law Society of Scotland is the professional governing body for Scottish solicitors.It promotes excellence among solicitors through representation, support and regulation of its members. It also promotes the interests of the public in relation to the profession...
from 1954 to 1955 and Dean of the Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow
Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow
The Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow is a professional body of legal practitioners based in Glasgow and providing services to lawyers in the city and the surrounding area...
in 1955. He resigned from the Chair in 1957, and was awarded an LLD in 1958 and knighted in 1961.
In 1963, James Millar was appointed to the Chair. Another graduate of the University, Millar was a partner in Ramsay, Menzies & Wilson, and had previously been a part-time assistant in Evidence and Procedure and held a part-time lectureship in Administrative Law. He was Dean of the Faculty from 1965 to 1968, and appointed CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1976. He resigned in 1978, when Robert Jack was appointed. Jack was a partner in law firm McGrigor, Donald & Co., and retained this position when appointed to the Chair, being promoted to Senior Partner in 1990. He served on the Scottish Law Commission
Scottish Law Commission
The Scottish Law Commission is Scottish advisory public body established by Parliament of the United Kingdom in 1965 to keep the law of Scotland under review and recommend necessary reforms to improve, simplify and update Scots law. It plays a leading role in developing the law for the people of...
, Panel on Takeovers and Mergers
Panel on Takeovers and Mergers
The Panel on Takeovers and Mergers is a regulatory body located in London, England. It was set up in 1968 and is charged with the administration of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers...
and the Financial Law Panel, and was appointed CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1988. He served on the Council of the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
after the Guinness share-trading fraud scandal
Guinness share-trading fraud
The Guinness share-trading fraud was a famous British business scandal of the 1980s. It involved an attempt to manipulate the stock market on a massive scale to inflate the price of Guinness shares and thereby assist a £2.7 billion take-over bid for the Scottish drinks company Distillers...
, and pressed MP John Maxton
John Maxton, Baron Maxton
John Alston Maxton, Baron Maxton is a Scottish Labour Party politician.From 1979 to 2001 he was a backbench Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons. He is a nephew of the former Independent Labour Party leader, James Maxton...
to raise questions in Parliament about the affair in 1997. He retired in 1993, and remains Emeritus Professor. He was awarded an LLD on the University's 550th anniversary celebrations in 2001. The Chair is currently vacant.
Professors of Mercantile Law
- 1978-1993: Robert Jack
- 1963-1978: James Miller
- 1946-1957: Sir John Boyd
- 1930-1940: Sir John HendersonJohn Craik-HendersonProfessor John James Craik-Henderson was a British Conservative Party politician.Henderson was elected to the House of Commons at a by-election in March 1940, as Member of Parliament for Leeds North East...
- 1920-1930: Thomas Wright
See also
- List of Professorships at the University of Glasgow
- University of Glasgow School of LawUniversity of Glasgow School of LawThe School of Law at the University of Glasgow provides undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Law, and awards the degrees of Bachelor of Laws , Master of Laws , Master of Science , Master of Research and Doctor of Philosophy , the degree of Doctor of Laws...
- Regius Chair of Law, Glasgow