Regius Chair of Public Law and the Law of Nature and Nations
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The Regius Chair of Public Law and the Law of Nature and Nations is a Regius Professorship 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 ...
. It was established in 1707 by Queen Anne, 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 England, 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 His Majesty's Advocate, known as the Lord Advocate ( gd, Morair Tagraidh, sco, Laird Advocat), 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 p ...
and then
Lord Justice Clerk The Lord Justice Clerk is the second most senior judge in Scotland, after the Lord President of the Court of Session. Originally ''clericus justiciarie'' or Clerk to the Court of Justiciary, the counterpart in the criminal courts of the Lord ...
. In 1972, Neil MacCormick was appointed to the chair. He had previously taught Jurisprudence at 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 ...
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 A Member of the European Parliament (MEP) is a person who has been elected to serve as a popular representative in the European Parliament. When the European Parliament (then known as the Common Assembly of the ECSC) first met in 1952, its ...
for
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...
. MacCormick retired in 2008 and was succeeded by Neil Walker.


Professors

*2008–present: Neil Walker *1972-2008: Sir Neil MacCormick *1945-? Archibald Hunter Campbell *1922-1945 William Wilson *1890-1922 Ludovic James Grant *1862-1890 James Lorimer *1832-1862 vacant *1796-1832 Robert Hamilton *1779-1796 Allan Maconochie, Lord Meadowbank *1764-1779 James Balfour *1759-1764
Robert Bruce, Lord Kennet Robert Bruce of Kennet, Lord Kennet FRSE (24 December 1718 – 8 April 1785) was a Scottish advocate, legal scholar and judge. Life Bruce was born at Kennet House in Clackmannanshire on 24 December 1718, the son of Mary Balfour, daughter of ...
*1735-1759 George Abercrombie *1734-1735 William Kirkpatrick *1707-?: Charles Erskine


See also

*
University of Edinburgh School of Law Edinburgh Law School, founded in 1707, is a school within the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom dedicated to research and teaching in law. It is located in the historic Old College, University of Edinburgh, Old College, the ori ...
{{University of Edinburgh Public Law and the Law of Nature and Nations Professorships in law Professorships at the University of Edinburgh