Old Photograph John Stuart Blackie Scotland

Old photograph of John Stuart Blackie who was born in Glasgow, Scotland. John, born 28 July 1809, died 2 March 1895, was a Scottish scholar and man of letters. He was educated at the New Academy and afterwards at the Marischal College, in Aberdeen, where his father was manager of the Commercial Bank. After attending classes at Edinburgh University from 1825 to 1826, Blackie spent three years at Aberdeen as a student of theology. In 1829 he went to Germany, and after studying at Göttingen and Berlin (where he under the influence of Heeren, Otfried Müller, Schleiermacher, Neander and Böckh) he accompanied Bunsen to Italy and Rome. The years spent abroad extinguished his former wish to enter the Church, and at his father's desire he gave himself up to the study of law. By the time he was admitted a member of the Faculty of Advocates in 1834 he had acquired a strong love of the classics and a taste for letters in general. In 1852 he was appointed to the professorship of Greek at Edinburgh University, in succession to George Dunbar, a post which he continued to hold for thirty years. Scottish nationality was another source of enthusiasm with him; and in this connection he displayed real sympathy with highland home life and the grievances of the crofters. The foundation of the Celtic chair at Edinburgh University was mainly due to his efforts. In spite of the many calls upon his time he produced a considerable amount of literary work, usually on classical or Scottish subjects, including some poems and songs of no mean order. He died in Edinburgh and is buried in Dean Cemetery to the north side of the central path in the north section of the original cemetery.



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