William Robertson
William Robertson (September 19, 1721 – June 11, 1793) was a Scottish historian and Principal of the University of Edinburgh. He was a significant figure in the Scottish Enlightenment.He was a member of the Poker Club.[1], whose members included Joseph Black, Adam Ferguson, John Home, David Hume and Adam Smith.
As a historian, he achieved acclaim with his first major work The History of Scotland during the Reigns of Queen Mary and James VI, published in 1758; followed by his History of Scotland 1542 - 1603, in 1759. Edward Gibbon is quoted as saying "The Praise which has ever been the most flattering to my ear is to find my own name associated with the names of Robertson and Hume."
Robertson was born at Borthwick, Midlothian and educated in Dalkeith. In 1735, he entered the University of Edinburgh, where he studied divinity. In 1743 he became minister at Gladsmuir in Haddington, East Lothian) and later at Lady Yester's Kirk and Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh. A staunch Presbyterian and Whig, in 1745 he volunteered to defend the city against the Jacobites led by Prince Charles Edward Stuart.
Robertson’s political connections and academic standing led him to be elected as Principal of the University by the Edinburgh town council, on 10 March 1762. This event is often viewed as a significant step towards institutionalising enlightenment in Edinburgh during the eighteenth century. [2] In 1763, he became also Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1763, and Royal Historiographer in 1764.
He is buried at Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh.