Andrew Dalzell (sometimes shown as Andrew Dalzel or Andrew Dalziel)

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 soc ...

(1742–1806) was a Scottish scholar and prominent figure during the

Scottish Enlightenment The Scottish Enlightenment ( sco, Scots Enlichtenment, gd, Soillseachadh na h-Alba) was the period in 18th- and early-19th-century Scotland characterised by an outpouring of intellectual and scientific accomplishments. By the eighteenth century ...

. In 1783 he was a co-founder 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 ...

Life

He was born in Gateside,

Newliston Newliston is a country house near Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located south-west of Kirkliston, and west of the city centre. The house, designed by Robert Adam in the late 18th century, is a category A listed building. The 18th-century gardens, ...

near

Linlithgow Linlithgow (; gd, Gleann Iucha, sco, Lithgae) is a town in West Lothian, Scotland. It was historically West Lothian's county town, reflected in the county's historical name of Linlithgowshire. An ancient town, it lies in the Central Belt on ...

on 6 October 1742 the youngest son of William Dalzell, a carpenter, and his wife Alice Linn. His father died in 1751 and the young Dalzell then fell into the financial care of his namesake and uncle, the Rev Andrew Dalzell of

Stoneykirk Stoneykirk ( gd, Eaglais Steafain) is an area and a village in the heart of the Rhins of Galloway, Wigtownshire, in the administrative council area of Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland nearly ten miles in length and three and a half miles in bread ...

but remaining in Newliston under the supervision of Rev John Drysdale of Kirkliston. His early education was at

Kirkliston Kirkliston is a small town and parish to the west of Edinburgh, Scotland, historically within the county of West Lothian but now within the City of Edinburgh council limits. It lies on high ground immediately north of a northward loop of the ...

Parish School, and then he attended

Edinburgh University 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 158 ...

studying to be a minister in the footsteps of his uncle and adoptive father, but he was never licensed to preach. Instead (around 1765) he became the personal tutor of the Lauderdale family teaching in particular the young

James James is a common English language surname and given name: *James (name), the typically masculine first name James * James (surname), various people with the last name James James or James City may also refer to: People * King James (disambiguati ...

(1758–1839), Thomas and

Robert The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

, later Lord Liston, the latter becoming a lifelong friend. He is said to have taken his pupils to

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated pop ...

to hear the lectures of John Millar on Civil Law. In 1772 his various contacts brought about his achieving the position of Professor of Greek at

. This brought him into contact with the critical figures of the

, most of which were in

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

. He also served other roles; being Keeper of the

College Library An academic library is a library that is attached to a higher education institution and serves two complementary purposes: to support the curriculum and the research of the university faculty and students. It is unknown how many academic librar ...

from 1785, and Principal Clerk to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland from 1788 (the first layman to hold this role).Monuments and monumental inscriptions in Scotland: The Grampian Society, 1871 Curiously his address is given simply as College at this period, as he lived in tied accommodation within Old College. In 1783 he was a founder member of the

and served as their Literary Secretary from 1789 to 1796. In 1789 he was not chosen as Clerk to the

General Assembly of the Church of Scotland The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the sovereign and highest court of the Church of Scotland, and is thus the Church's governing body.''An Introduction to Practice and Procedure in the Church of Scotland'' by A. Gordon McGillivra ...

in opposition to Dr Carlyle of

Inveresk Inveresk ( Gaelic: ''Inbhir Easg'') is a village in East Lothian, Scotland situated to the south of Musselburgh. It has been designated a conservation area since 1969. It is situated on slightly elevated ground on the north bank of a loop ...

, Carlyle gaining a small majority. He died (after a long illness) on 8 December 1806.The Scots Magazine: volume 68 He is buried in

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

in central

. His burial vault lies against the south wall and is highly defensive in design, being constructed at the height of the graverobbing fears in Edinburgh. His role as Professor of Greek was taken over by George Dunbar who had acted as his assistant for many years.

Family

He married Ann Drysdale in 1786. She was daughter of the Very Rev John Drysdale (1718–1788) who was Moderator of the Church of Scotland in both 1773 and 1784. Dalzell presumably met her through this connection.

Publications

*''Principles of Latin and English Grammar'' (1772) (co-written with

Alexander Adam Alexander Adam (24 June 174118 December 1809) was a Scottish teacher and writer on Roman antiquities. Life Alexander Adam was born near Forres, in Moray, the son of a farmer. From his earliest years he showed uncommon diligence and perseveranc ...

) *''Substance of Lectures on the Ancient Greeks, and on the Revival of Greek Learning in Europe, delivered by Prof Andrew Dalzell'' (published by John Dalzell, advocate, posthumously, 1821)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dalzell, Andrew 1742 births Scottish classical scholars Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh People associated with Edinburgh Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Academics of the University of Edinburgh Burials at Greyfriars Kirkyard 1806 deaths