Regius Chair of Public Law and the Law of Nature and Nations
Encyclopedia
The Regius Chair of Public Law and the Law of Nature and Nations is a Regius Professor
ship at the University of Edinburgh
. It was established in 1707 by Queen Anne
, and was the first Chair in Law created at the University.
, by Queen Anne
, and was the University's first Chair in Law. Its first occupant was Charles Erskine, who was appointed on 7 November aged only twenty-seven years, despite the Town Council's objections. Erskine later served as Lord Advocate
and then Lord Justice Clerk
.
In 1972, Neil MacCormick was appointed to the Chair. He had previously taught Jurisprudence at the University of St Andrews
and Balliol College, Oxford
. MacCormick came to be recognised as amongst the world's leading contemporary jurists, and was knighted in 2001 for his services to law. From 1999 to 2004, he was an SNP
Member of the European Parliament
for Scotland
. MacCormick retired in 2008 and was succeeded by Neil Walker
.
Regius Professor
Regius Professorships are "royal" professorships at the ancient universities of the United Kingdom and Ireland - namely Oxford, Cambridge, St Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Dublin. Each of the chairs was created by a monarch, and each appointment, save those at Dublin, is approved by the...
ship at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
. It was established in 1707 by Queen Anne
Anne of Great Britain
Anne ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Act of Union, two of her realms, England and Scotland, were united as a single sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain.Anne's Catholic father, James II and VII, was deposed during the...
, and was the first Chair in Law created at the University.
History
The Chair was founded in 1707, the year of the union of Scotland and EnglandActs of Union 1707
The Acts of Union were two Parliamentary Acts - the Union with Scotland Act passed in 1706 by the Parliament of England, and the Union with England Act passed in 1707 by the Parliament of Scotland - which put into effect the terms of the Treaty of Union that had been agreed on 22 July 1706,...
, by Queen Anne
Anne of Great Britain
Anne ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Act of Union, two of her realms, England and Scotland, were united as a single sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain.Anne's Catholic father, James II and VII, was deposed during the...
, and was the University's first Chair in Law. Its first occupant was Charles Erskine, who was appointed on 7 November aged only twenty-seven years, despite the Town Council's objections. Erskine later served as Lord Advocate
Lord Advocate
Her Majesty's Advocate , known as the Lord Advocate , is the chief legal officer of the Scottish Government and the Crown in Scotland for both civil and criminal matters that fall within the devolved powers of the Scottish Parliament...
and then Lord Justice Clerk
Lord Justice Clerk
The Lord Justice Clerk is the second most senior judge in Scotland, after the Lord President of the Court of Session.The holder has the title in both the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary and is in charge of the Second Division of Judges in the Court of Session...
.
In 1972, Neil MacCormick was appointed to the Chair. He had previously taught Jurisprudence at the University of St Andrews
University of Dundee School of Law
The School of Law at the University of Dundee in Dundee, Scotland provides undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in Scottish and English Law. It is the only institution in the United Kingdom to permit students to qualify into all three UK legal jurisdictions...
and Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
. MacCormick came to be recognised as amongst the world's leading contemporary jurists, and was knighted in 2001 for his services to law. From 1999 to 2004, he was an SNP
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
for Scotland
Scotland (European Parliament constituency)
Scotland constitutes a single constituency of the European Parliament. For 2009 it elects 6 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.- Boundaries :...
. MacCormick retired in 2008 and was succeeded by Neil Walker
Neil Walker (lawyer)
Neil Craig Walker, FRSE, is a Scottish lawyer and Regius Professor of Public Law and the Law of Nature and Nations at the School of Law of the University of Edinburgh...
.
Professors
- 2008-present: Neil WalkerNeil Walker (lawyer)Neil Craig Walker, FRSE, is a Scottish lawyer and Regius Professor of Public Law and the Law of Nature and Nations at the School of Law of the University of Edinburgh...
- 1972-2008: Sir Neil MacCormickNeil MacCormickSir Neil MacCormick, QC, FBA, FRSE , or just Neil MacCormick, was a legal philosopher and Scottish politician. He was Regius Professor of Public Law and the Law of Nature and Nations at the University of Edinburgh from 1972 until 2008...
- 1862-1890: James LorimerJames Lorimer (jurist)James Lorimer was a Scottish jurist and professor of public law.-Life:Lorimer was born in Aberdalgie in Perthshire.He was admitted to the Scottish bar in 1845...
- 1707-?: Charles Erskine