The grave of A R Carson, Greyfriars Kirkyard

Aglionby Ross Carson

FRSE Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE) is an award granted to individuals that the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland's national academy of science and letters, judged to be "eminently distinguished in their subject". This soci ...

LLD Legum Doctor (Latin: “teacher of the laws”) (LL.D.) or, in English, Doctor of Laws, is a doctorate-level academic degree in law or an honorary degree, depending on the jurisdiction. The double “L” in the abbreviation#Plural forms, abbrev ...

(1780 – 4 November 1850) was an educationalist and author. He served as rector of the

High School in Edinburgh The Royal High School (RHS) of Edinburgh is a co-educational school administered by the City of Edinburgh Council. The school was founded in 1128 and is one of the oldest schools in Scotland. It serves 1,200 pupils drawn from four feeder primar ...

from 1820 to 1845. His Latin texts remain in use. In texts he is usually referred to as A. R. Carson.

Life

He was born in Hollywood in

Dumfriesshire Dumfriesshire or the County of Dumfries or Shire of Dumfries (''Siorrachd Dhùn Phris'' in Gaelic) is a historic county and registration county in southern Scotland. The Dumfries lieutenancy area covers a similar area to the historic county. I ...

and his early life was spent in Closeburn. He was educated at

Wallace Hall Academy Wallace Hall is a 2-18, state-operated comprehensive school in Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway, south-west Scotland. The school serves all school-aged children in the local area, with three distinct schooling types operating under one building. ...

then sent to

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

to study, first at the

Edinburgh High School The Royal High School (RHS) of Edinburgh is a co-educational school administered by the City of Edinburgh Council. The school was founded in 1128 and is one of the oldest schools in Scotland. It serves 1,200 pupils drawn from four feeder primar ...

then at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

, studying

classics Classics or classical studies is the study of classical antiquity. In the Western world, classics traditionally refers to the study of Classical Greek and Roman literature and their related original languages, Ancient Greek and Latin. Classics ...

. From 1801 to 1806 he served as rector of Dumfries Grammar School. He then returned to Edinburgh High School to teach Classics, until 1820, when he was promoted to Rector, in charge of the school. He was a contributor to the Scottish Review and

Encyclopædia Britannica The (Latin for "British Encyclopædia") is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia. It is published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.; the company has existed since the 18th century, although it has changed ownership various time ...

. He was elected a Fellow of the

Royal Society of Edinburgh The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity that operates on a wholly independent and non-partisan basis and provides public benefit throughout Scotland. It was established i ...

in 1821 and in 1826 the

University of St Andrews (Aien aristeuein) , motto_lang = grc , mottoeng = Ever to ExcelorEver to be the Best , established = , type = Public research university Ancient university , endowment ...

awarded him an honorary doctorate (LL.D) in 1826. In the 1830s he is listed at 82 Lauriston Place in Edinburgh, just west of

Greyfriars Kirkyard Greyfriars Kirkyard is the graveyard surrounding Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located at the southern edge of the Old Town, adjacent to George Heriot's School. Burials have been taking place since the late 16th century, and a num ...

. He resigned as Rector of the High School in 1845. He died in

on 4 November 1850 and is buried in

with his wife Anne Irving and four of their children. The grave lies towards the north end of the western extension. A memorial to Carson was later erected in

St Giles Cathedral St Giles' Cathedral ( gd, Cathair-eaglais Naomh Giles), or the High Kirk of Edinburgh, is a parish church of the Church of Scotland in the Old Town, Edinburgh, Old Town of Edinburgh. The current building was begun in the 14th century and extended ...

in Edinburgh.

Publications

*''The Relative Qui, Quae, Quad'' *''Exercises in Attic Greek'' *Translations of ''Tacitus'' and ''Phaedrus''

Artistic recognition

His portrait, by Sir John Watson Gordon, is held by the

Royal High School, Edinburgh The Royal High School (RHS) of Edinburgh is a co-educational school administered by the City of Edinburgh Council. The school was founded in 1128 and is one of the oldest schools in Scotland. It serves 1,200 pupils drawn from four feeder primar ...

Family

His granddaughter, Mary Carson, married the anatomist

David Hepburn David Hepburn CMG FRSE (1859-1931) was a Scottish physician and anatomist. He served as president of the Anatomical Society 1916 to 1918. Life He was born in Milnathort on 30 October 1858, the son of John Hepburn, a local vet, and Elizabeth ...

References

1780 births 1850 deaths People associated with Edinburgh Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Burials at Greyfriars Kirkyard {{Scotland-academic-stub