Historiographer Royal
Encyclopedia
The Historiographer Royal is a member of the Royal household
in Scotland
. The office was created in 1681, and was in abeyance from 1709 until 1763 when it was revived for Principal William Robertson of Edinburgh University. The post, which now has no formal responsibilities or salary, is held by commission under the Great Seal of Scotland
. The current office-holder is Christopher Smout
, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of St Andrews
.
Office vacant from 1709 until 1763
Great Officer of State
In the United Kingdom, the Great Officers of State are traditional Crown ministers, who either inherit their positions or are appointed to exercise certain largely ceremonial functions. Separate Great Officers exist for England and Scotland, and formerly for Ireland...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The office was created in 1681, and was in abeyance from 1709 until 1763 when it was revived for Principal William Robertson of Edinburgh University. The post, which now has no formal responsibilities or salary, is held by commission under the Great Seal of Scotland
Great Seal of Scotland
The Great Seal of Scotland allows the monarch to authorise official documents without having to sign each document individually. Wax is melted in a metal mould or matrix and impressed into a wax figure that is attached by cord or ribbon to documents that the monarch wishes to make official...
. The current office-holder is Christopher Smout
Christopher Smout
Thomas Christopher Smout CBE, FBA, FRSE, is a Scottish academic, historian, author and Historiographer Royal in Scotland.-Career:Smout taught at the University of Edinburgh, from 1959 until 1980...
, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
.
Office Holders
Holders of the office are:- James Crawford DDDoctor of DivinityDoctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
: 11 Nov 1681 - William Turner DD: 30 Sep 1682
- James Fall: 16 Dec 1682
- Christopher Irving MDDoctor of MedicineDoctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
: 30 July 1686 - William Dunlop: 31 Jan 1693
- Daniel Campbell: 1 April 1700
- David Crawford jr of Drumsoy: 5 Oct 1704
- David Sympsone: 12 May 1708 - 4 July 1709
Office vacant from 1709 until 1763
- Rev William RobertsonWilliam Robertson (historian)William Robertson FRSE FSA was a Scottish historian, minister of religion, and Principal of the University of Edinburgh...
DD: 6 Aug 1763 - John GilliesJohn GilliesJohn Gillies was a Scottish historian and classical scholar.-Life:He was born at Brechin, in Forfarshire and was educated at the University of Glasgow, where, at the age of twenty, he acted for a short time as substitute for the professor of Greek. He lived for a while in Germany and returned in...
LLD: 15 Jun 1793 - George BrodieGeorge Brodie (historian)George Brodie , historian, was born about 1786 in East Lothian, where his father was a farmer on a large scale, and a contributor to the improvement of Scottish husbandry....
: 5 Mar 1836 - John Hill BurtonJohn Hill BurtonJohn Hill Burton FRSE was a Scottish advocate, historian and economist. The author of "Life and Correspondence of David Hume", he was secretary of the Scottish Prison Board , and Historiographer Royal ....
LLD: 29 Aug 1867 - William Forbes SkeneWilliam Forbes SkeneWilliam Forbes Skene , Scottish historian and antiquary, was the second son of Sir Walter Scott's friend, James Skene , of Rubislaw, near Aberdeen....
DCLDCL- Organizations :* Detroit College of Law, now known as Michigan State University College of Law* Data Connection Ltd, see Metaswitch* Disney Cruise Line, a cruise line company * Distillers Company Limited, a producer of spirits...
LLD: 14 Nov 1881 - David MassonDavid MassonDavid Masson , was a Scottish writer.He was born in Aberdeen, and educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and at Marischal College, University of Aberdeen. Intending to enter the Church, he proceeded to Edinburgh University, where he studied theology under Dr Thomas Chalmers, with whom he remained...
LLD: 3 Mar 1893 - Peter Hume BrownPeter Hume BrownPeter Hume Brown was a Scottish historian and professor who played an important part in establishing Scottish history as a significant academic discipline...
: 4 May 1908 - Sir Robert Sangster RaitRobert RaitSir Robert Sangster Rait Kt. CBE DL was a Scottish historian, Historiographer Royal and Principal of the University of Glasgow.-Early life:...
CBEOrder of the British EmpireThe 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...
MAMaster of Arts (Oxbridge)In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree...
: 11 Jan 1919 - Robert Kerr HannayRobert Kerr HannayRobert Kerr Hannay FRSE was a Scottish historian. He served as Historiographer Royal of Scotland and Chair of Scottish History and Palaeography at the University of Edinburgh....
LLD FRSERoyal Society of EdinburghThe Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
: 14 July 1930 - Henry William Meikle MA DLitt: 23 Sep 1940
- J. D. MackieJ. D. MackieJohn Duncan Mackie CBE MC Hon. LLD was a distinguished Scottish historian who wrote a one-volume history of Scotland as well as several works on early modern Scotland....
OBEOrder of the British EmpireThe 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...
MCMilitary CrossThe Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
LLD: 19 Sep 1958 - 1978 - Gordon DonaldsonGordon DonaldsonGordon Donaldson CBE, FRHistS, FBA was a Scottish historian.Born in Edinburgh of Shetlander descent, Donaldson attended the Royal High School of Edinburgh, before being awarded a scholarship to study at the University of Edinburgh. He also supplemented his income by undertaking some tutoring...
CBEOrder of the British EmpireThe 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...
: 1979 - 1993 - Christopher SmoutChristopher SmoutThomas Christopher Smout CBE, FBA, FRSE, is a Scottish academic, historian, author and Historiographer Royal in Scotland.-Career:Smout taught at the University of Edinburgh, from 1959 until 1980...
CBEOrder of the British EmpireThe 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...
: 1993 -