Category Archives: Teachers of Natural Law in Scotland

Gershom Carmichael (1672-1729)

Gershom Carmichael (1672-1729)

About Carmichael

  • Regent at St Andrews, 1693
  • Regent at Glasgow, 1694-1727
  • Professor of Moral Philosophy at Glasgow, 1727-1729

Teaching

  • Moral philosophy course ‘reoriented…around Pufendorf’s theories of natural law’ (Cairns, ‘Origins…Glasgow’ 157*)
  • Used Pufendorf’s textbook De officio homini et civis as text for teaching moral philosophy (Cairns, ‘Ethics’ 166*)
  • Discussed Locke’s theories and the social contract in his natural jurisprudence lectures (Wood, Aberdeen Enlightenment 181*)

Publications, Manuscripts and other Resources

  • ‘… most important publication, an extended commentary on Samuel Pufendorf’s work on the duty of man and citizen, S[amuelis] Pufendorfii de officio hominis et civis juxta legem naturalem, libri duo. Supplementis et observationibus in academicae juventutis usum auxit et illustravit Gerschomus Carmichael (1724; first edn, 1718).’ (ODNB*)
  • Pufendorf, Samuel, Freiherr von, De jure naturæ et gentium. Abridgments S. Puffendorfii de officio hominis et civis, juxta legem naturalem libri duo. Editio nova, aucta observationibus & supplementis, … adjectis a Gerschomo Carmichael … (Glasguæ: ex officina Donaldi Govan, 1718)
  • Pufendorf, Samuel, Freiherr von, De jure naturæ et gentium. Abridgments  S. Puffendorfii De officio hominis et civis, juxta legem naturalem, libri duo. Supplementis & observationibus in academicæ juventutis usum auxit & illustravit Gerschomus Carmichael, Philosophiae in Academia Glasguensi Professor. Editio Secunda priore Auctior & Emendatior (Edinburgi: typis Joannis Mosman & sociorum, impensis Joannis Paton Bibliopolae; & prostant venales apud officinam ejus in Area Parliamentaria, MDCCXXIV. [1724])
  • University of Glasgow, Archives and Business Records Centre, account of Carmichael’s teaching, 43170

*For references, see the Site Bibliography.

James Mylne (1757-1839)

About Mylne

  • Professor of moral philosophy at the University of Glasgow, 1797-1837

Publications, Manuscripts, and other Resources

  • David Murray, ‘John Jardine. Lectures on Botany, 1795. James Mylne. Lectures on Moral Philosophy, 1799’ (University of Glasgow, Special Collections MS Murray 207)
  • ‘Notes on Professor Mylne’s lectures on moral philosophy, Glasgow University, session 1815-16’ (Mitchell Library, Glasgow, MS 586134)
  • ‘Notes taken from Mr. James Mylne’s lectures [on moral philosophy] (1820) Taken by Thomas Mackenzie’ (University of Glasgow, Special Collections MS Gen 466)
  • ‘Notes of lectures on Moral Philosophy, delivered in the University of Glasgow, by James Mylne [c. 1829-30] taken by Charles Wicksteed’, 3 vols. (University of Glasgow, Special Collections MS Gen 97)
  • ‘Notes, of James Mylne’s lectures by Robert Pollok’ [nd] (University of Glasgow, Special Collections MS Gen 1355.100-33)

*For references, see the Site Bibliography.

William Law (d. 1729)

About Law

  • Regent at University of Edinburgh from 1690
  • Chair of Moral Philosophy at University of Edinburgh from 1708

Teaching

  • Taught natural law as a regent and continued to do so as a professor (Haakonssen, ‘Natural’ 262*)

 Publications, Manuscripts and other Resources

      • Dictates on ethics (1696), physics (1701), Annotationes in ontologgiam Gerrardi de Vries and Annotationes in pneumatologiam Gerrardi de Vries (1703-1704), and Annotationes in physicam generalem D. Joannis Clerici (1705) (University of Edinburgh, Centre for Research Collections, MSS Dc.7.79; Dc.8.43; Dc.8.53, ff. 43-119; Gen.71D)
      • Adv. MS 22.7.4, ‘Lectures of Prof. William Law taken by William Haldane’ (1699-1700)’ [Including from f. 49 ‘Elementa Philsophia Moralis’] (Advocates Library, Edinburgh)
      • MS Dc.8.53, ff. 42-119, ‘Dictates on Ethics (of William Law), taken down by John Smith, 1696’ (University of Edinburgh, Centre for Research Collections)
      • MS La.III.152, ‘Dictates on Ethics (of William Law), taken down by Robert Clark, 1696’ (University of Edinburgh, Centre for Research Collections)

*For references, see the Site Bibliography.

William Cleghorn (1718-1754)

About Cleghorn

  •  Professor of moral philosophy at Edinburgh, 1745-1754

Publications, Manuscripts, and other Resources

  • Student notes from his lectures, University of Edinburgh, Centre for Research Collection MSS Da.2.1p61 and Dc.3.3.6 (4 vols, taken down 1746-1747)
  • W Cleghorn, The spirit and principles of the Whigs and Jacobites compared. Being the substance of a discourse delivered to an audience of gentlemen at Edinburgh, December 22, 1745 (London: printed for R. Dodsley in Pall-Mall, and sold by M. Cooper in Paternoster-Row, 1746)

*For references, see the Site Bibliography.

John Erskine (1695-1768), of Carnock

About Erskine

  • Chair of Scots Law, Edinburgh, 1737-1765

Teaching

  • Principles of the Law of Scotland combines Justinian’s Institute with Pufendorf’s natural law; ‘it was the introduction of generations of Scots lawyers to their legal system’ (ODNB*)

Publications, Manuscripts, and other Resources

  • ‘Notes on lectures delivered by Erskine (1740): Sess. 1740-1’ [Apparently taken by Sir Gilbert Elliot, 3rd Bart of Minto], National Library of Scotland MS 3862
  • Principles of the law of Scotland: in the order of Sir George Mackenzie’s institutions of that law (1754); 7th edn (1791) available from Google Books

*For references, see the Site Bibliography.

James Mackintosh (1765-1832)

About Mackintosh

  • Studied at Aberdeen and was inspired by James Beattie (ODNB*)
  • Trained as a physician but changed to politics and journalism and later law: called to the English Bar in 1795 (ODNB*)
  • His Discourse on the law of nature and nations was a rejection of his former support for the French Revolution (ODNB*)
  • Was a judge in Bombay from 1803 to 1811 (ODNB*)
  • Rector of Glasgow University, 1823-1825

Publications, Manuscripts, and other Resources

  • James Mackintosh, A discourse on the study of the law of nature and nations; Introductory to a course on that science, to be commenced in Lincoln’s Inn Hall, On Wednesday, Feb. 13, 1799, in pursuance of an order of the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn (London: Printed for T. Cadell et al, 1799)
  • James Mackintosh, A discourse on the study of the law of nature and nations, 2nd edn (London: Henry Goode and Co. Sold by T. Clark, Edinburgh; and Wardlaw and Co. Glasgow, 1828; repr. in The cabinet library of scarce and celebrated tracts, no. 1 (Edinburgh: Thomas Clark, 1835; repr. 1838) Available from Project Gutenburg.)

NPG 45; Sir James Mackintosh by Sir Thomas Lawrence

Sir James Mackintosh
by Sir Thomas Lawrence
oil on canvas, exhibited 1804
NPG 45
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Creative Commons Licence

*For references, see the Site Bibliography.

Robert Bruce (1718-1785)

About Bruce

  • Regius Professor of the Law of Nature and Nations, 1759-1764
  • Lord Kennet (1764)
  • Son-in-law of George Abercromby of Tullibody

Teaching

  • Advertised his ‘Course of Lectures upon GROTIUS DE JURE BELLI AC PACIS’ in Oct 1759 (Cairns, ‘First’ 23*)
  • 40 students in session 1763-64 (Cairns, ‘Famous’137*)
  • ‘lectured regularly to large classes’ (Emerson, Academic patronage 262*)

*For references, please see the Site Bibliography.

Thomas Nicolson (1644/6-1718)

About Nicolson

  • Regent at Glasgow University, 1666-1681 (ODNB*)

 Publications, manuscripts, and other Resources

  • Lectures on philosophy, delivered at Glasgow (1675-76) [metaphysics and moral philosophy, lectures of Thomas Nicolson taken by James Bisset] (Advocates Library Adv. MS.5.2.2.)

*For references, see the Site Bibliography.