William Robertson FRSE (1740–1803) was an 18th-century Scottish antiquary who served as Keeper of Records for Scotland.

Life

HM General Register House, Edinburgh (geograph 2869117)

He was born in Fordyce in northern Scotland in 1740 the son of James Robertson and his wife, Isabella Taylor. He was educated at Fordyce Grammar School where he befriended George Chalmers. From 1755 to 1757 he studied law at

Aberdeen University , mottoeng = The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom , established = , type = Public research universityAncient university , endowment = £58.4 million (2021) , budget ...

then was apprenticed to Mr Turner, an advocate in

Aberdeen Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...

. In 1758 Turner released him to become personal clerk to

Lord Monboddo James Burnett, Lord Monboddo (baptised 25 October 1714; died 26 May 1799) was a Scottish judge, scholar of linguistic evolution, philosopher and deist. He is most famous today as a founder of modern comparative historical linguistics. In 1767 ...

and assisted him on the infamous "Douglas case". In 1766 Lord Monboddo recommended him as Chamberlain to

James Ogilvy, 6th Earl of Findlater James Ogilvy, 6th Earl of Findlater (c. 1714 – 3 November 1770) was a Scottish earl. Life He was the eldest son of James Ogilvy, 5th Earl of Findlater and second of Seafield, and Lady Elizabeth Hay, second daughter of Thomas Hay, 7th Earl of Kin ...

. In the autumn of 1773 he met Dr Samuel Johnson at

Cullen House Cullen House is a large house, about south-west of the coastal town of Cullen in Moray, Scotland. It was the seat of the Ogilvies of Findlater, who went on to become the Earls of Findlater and Seafield, and it remained in their family u ...

during his visit to the earl during his famous tour of Scotland (

James Boswell James Boswell, 9th Laird of Auchinleck (; 29 October 1740 ( N.S.) – 19 May 1795), was a Scottish biographer, diarist, and lawyer, born in Edinburgh. He is best known for his biography of his friend and older contemporary the English writer ...

appears to have been absent during this visit). Late in 1773 he became joint Deputy Keeper of Register House in Edinburgh, alongside his brother, Alexander Robertson (1745-1818) the existing Deputy Keeper since 1773. In 1790 William became Keeper of Records for all Scotland. In 1799 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were

Andrew Dalzell Andrew Dalzell (sometimes shown as Andrew Dalzel or Andrew Dalziel) FRSE (1742–1806) was a Scottish scholar and prominent figure during the Scottish Enlightenment. In 1783 he was a co-founder of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Life He wa ...

, Lord Woodhouselee, and

John Playfair John Playfair FRSE, FRS (10 March 1748 – 20 July 1819) was a Church of Scotland minister, remembered as a scientist and mathematician, and a professor of natural philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. He is best known for his book ''Illu ...

. Although some sources say that he died in 1799, he died on 4 March 1803 at his house 1 St Andrew Square. 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, adjacent to George Heriot's School. Burials have been taking place since the late 16th century, and a num ...

in the city centre. His house was demolished in 1890 to build the Prudential Assurance Building.Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh by Gifford, McWilliam and Walker The building is now a public house.

Family

In 1773 he married Margaret Donald, daughter of Cpt Alexander Donald of the

Gordon Highlanders Gordon may refer to: People * Gordon (given name), a masculine given name, including list of persons and fictional characters * Gordon (surname), the surname * Gordon (slave), escaped to a Union Army camp during the U.S. Civil War * Clan Gord ...

Publications

*''The History of Greece from the Earliest Times'' (1768) *''A North Briton Extraordinary'' (1769) *''Proceedings Relating to the Peerage of Scotland 1707 to 1788'' (1794) *''The Records of the Parliament of Scotland'' (1804- published posthumously)

References

1740 births 1803 deaths People from Aberdeenshire Alumni of the University of Aberdeen 18th-century Scottish historians Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Burials at Greyfriars Kirkyard People educated at Fordyce Academy {{Scotland-bio-stub