Sir Robert Sangster Rait (10 February 1874 – 25 May 1936) was a Scottish historian,

Historiographer Royal Historiographer Royal is the title of an appointment as official chronicler or historian of a court or monarch. It was initially particularly associated with the French monarchy, where the post existed from at least 1550, but in the later 16th and 1 ...

and

Principal of the University of Glasgow The Principal of the University of Glasgow is the working head of the University, acting as its chief executive. He is responsible for the day-to-day management of the University as well as its strategic planning and administration. The Principa ...

Early life

Rait was born in 1874 in

Narborough, Leicestershire Narborough is a large village and civil parish in the Blaby district of Leicestershire, England, around southwest of Leicester. The population of the civil parish (including Littlethorpe) was 8,498. The name is derived from the Old English ' ...

to Scottish parents, although the family moved shortly afterwards to his parents' hometown of

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), a ...

.''1881 Scotland Census'' He was educated at the

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

, graduating MA in 1894. He then worked briefly as an assistant to the Professor of Logic at the University, publishing his first book, ''Universities of Aberdeen: A History'', in 1895, before being elected to an Exhibition in Modern History at

New College, Oxford New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1379 by William of Wykeham in conjunction with Winchester College as its feeder school, New College is one of the oldest colleges at ...

in 1896. He was awarded First Class Honours, won the Stanhope Prize and was elected a Fellow of the College the same year. He worked as a lecturer at the College for three years, and in 1903 became a tutor.

Glasgow

In 1913, Rait was appointed to the newly created Chair in Scottish History and Literature at the

University of Glasgow , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...

, funded through the proceeds of the 1911 Scottish Exhibition of National History, Art, and Industry, held in the adjacent

Kelvingrove Park Kelvingrove Park is a public park located on the River Kelvin in the West End of the city of Glasgow, Scotland, containing the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. History Kelvingrove Park was originally created as the West End Park in 1852, and ...

. In this role he sought to engage more closely with students than was traditional for academics at the time, inviting students to tea at his home. From 1915–1918 during the First World War, Rait worked at the War Trade Intelligence Department in London, and was appointed a CBE in 1918. In 1919, he was appointed Historiographer Royal of Scotland, also serving for a time as Dean of the Faculty of Arts in the University. He became a prominent figure in the intellectual and cultural life of the city, frequently contributing letters and articles to the

Glasgow Herald ''The Herald'' is a Scottish broadsheet newspaper founded in 1783. ''The Herald'' is the longest running national newspaper in the world and is the eighth oldest daily paper in the world. The title was simplified from ''The Glasgow Herald'' in ...

, often anonymously. In 1929, Rait succeeded Sir

Donald MacAlister Sir Donald MacAlister, 1st Baronet of Tarbet (17 May 1854 – 15 January 1934) was a Scottish physician who was Principal and Vice-Chancellor and, later, Chancellor of the University of Glasgow. He was a member of the Cambridge Apostles intelle ...

as Principal of the University. In this role he sought continue the close relationship he had developed with students as a Professor, relocating the Principal's office to the Main Building of the University, where it remains today, making his time more freely available to students and staff, and frequently entertaining guests at the Principal's Lodging. He was an immensely popular figure with students. After being knighted in 1933, he was met on his return from London to

Glasgow Central station , symbol_location = gb , symbol = rail , image = Main Concourse at Glasgow Central Station.JPG , caption = The main concourse , borough = Glasgow, City of Glasgow , country ...

by hundreds of students and escorted to the University in a carriage drawn by Blues and led by the band of the OTC. The depression of the 1930s had a heavy effect on the University financially and on the Principal's health. In September 1935, he developed a serious illness, during which time he was largely unable to carry out his duties and was deputised at Court by the Rector, Sir Iain Colquhoun. He died at the Principal's Lodging on 25 May 1936.

Research

Rait's research generally maintained a Scottish focus, particularly with a reference to the politics of pre-Union Scotland and its relationship with

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...

, although he also completed biographies of Field Marshal Viscount Gough and Field Marshal Sir Frederick Haines. Publications: *''Universities of Aberdeen; a History'', 1895 *''The Scottish Parliament'', 1901 *''Relations between England and Scotland'', 1901 *''Lusus Regius, unpublished writings of King James I'', 1901 (ed.) *''Five Stuart Princesses'', 1902 *''Life and Campaigns of Field Marshal

Viscount Gough Hugh Gough,1st Viscount Gough Viscount Gough, of Goojerat in the Punjab and of the city of Limerick, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1849 for the military commander Hugh Gough, 1st Baron Gough. He had alread ...

'', 1903 *''Life of Field Marshal Sir Frederick Paul Haines'', 1911 *''Scotland'', in ''The Making of the Nations'' Series, 1911 *''Acts and Ordinances of the Interregnum, 1642–1660'' (with Prof. Sir C. H. Firth), 1911 *''Life in the Mediæval University'' (Cambridge Manuals), 1912 *''History of Scotland'' (Home University Library), 1914 *''Thoughts on the Union between England and Scotland'' (with Professor A. V. Dicey), 1920 *''The Parliaments of Scotland'', 1924 *''Memorials of

A. V. Dicey Albert Venn Dicey, (4 February 1835 – 7 April 1922), usually cited as A. V. Dicey, was a British Whig jurist and constitutional theorist. He is most widely known as the author of ''Introduction to the Study of the Law of the Constitutio ...

'', 1925 *''Critical Moments in British History'', 1925
''King James's Secret''
(with Annie I Cameron), 1927 *''History of the

Union Bank of Scotland The Bank of Scotland plc (Scottish Gaelic: ''Banca na h-Alba'') is a commercial and clearing bank based in Scotland and is part of the Lloyds Banking Group, following the Bank of Scotland's implosion in 2008. The bank was established by the ...

'', 1930 *''Scotland'' (with G. S. Pryde), 1934

Personal life

Rait married Ruth Bridge in 1908, with whom he had two daughters. He was a member of the Athenæum in London, the

Glasgow Art Club Glasgow Art Club is a club for artists and lay members with an interest in the arts, that has become over the generations "a meeting place for artists, business leaders and academics".1874 births 1936 deaths Alumni of the University of Aberdeen Alumni of New College, Oxford Academics of the University of Glasgow Principals of the University of Glasgow Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Knights Bachelor 20th-century Scottish historians Historians of the British Empire Historians of the British Isles People from Narborough, Leicestershire 19th-century Scottish historians