The University of Edinburgh, nestled in the heart of Scotland‘s stately capital city, is an institution steeped in history and academic prestige. As one of Scotland‘s four ancient universities and the sixth oldest university in the English-speaking world, its story is interwoven with that of the nation itself. From its founding in the 16th century to its current status as a global leader in higher education, the University of Edinburgh has been a beacon of scholarly tradition and groundbreaking research for over 400 years.
A College Born from Conflict and Ambition
The seeds of what would become the University of Edinburgh were planted amidst the religious and political turmoil of the Scottish Reformation. In 1562, the town council of Edinburgh established a college of law, located in Kirk o‘ Field, using funds bequeathed by Robert Reid, Bishop of Orkney. However, it wasn‘t until 1582 that King James VI of Scotland—who would later become King James I of England—granted a Royal Charter formally establishing the institution, then known as "Tounis College," as a full-fledged university.
This charter came at a pivotal moment. Scotland had recently transitioned to Presbyterianism, and the power to establish universities now rested with the monarch rather than the Pope. By founding a new university, King James VI sought to assert his authority and promote education in his northern kingdom. The University of Edinburgh thus became the fourth Scottish university, giving the less populous and less prosperous Scotland twice as many institutions of higher learning as its rival England.
Enlightenment and Expansion in the 18th Century
It was during the 18th century that the University of Edinburgh truly came into its own as an intellectual powerhouse at the forefront of the Scottish Enlightenment. This period saw the university produce a dazzling array of thinkers whose ideas would reshape the world‘s understanding of philosophy, economics, science, and medicine.
The philosopher David Hume, who challenged accepted notions of causality and miracles in works like "A Treatise of Human Nature" (1739-40) and "An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding" (1748), spent most of his life in Edinburgh and had close ties to the university. Adam Smith, widely regarded as the father of modern economics, was a student at the university and later served as Professor of Logic and Professor of Moral Philosophy. His groundbreaking work "An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations" (1776) laid the foundations of classical free market economic theory.
In the sciences, the chemist Joseph Black discovered carbon dioxide (which he called "fixed air") and pioneered the concept of latent heat while teaching at the university‘s medical school. The geologist James Hutton, another alumnus, put forth the theory of uniformitarianism and a conception of "deep time" that paved the way for the development of modern geology. These luminaries and many others made the University of Edinburgh a hotbed of intellectual ferment that reverberated across Europe and beyond.
The university‘s medical school also rose to international prominence during this period. Initially established in 1726, it was one of the first in the world to offer formal medical training. By the mid-18th century, under the leadership of professors like Alexander Monro secundus and William Cullen, Edinburgh had become the preeminent center of medical education in the English-speaking world, attracting students from across Britain, Europe, and America. Many techniques and practices that are foundational to modern medicine, such as the clinical lecture and the use of diagnostic equipment, were pioneered at Edinburgh.
The growing renown and student population of the university necessitated physical expansion. Many of the university‘s most iconic buildings, including the magnificent Old College designed by Robert Adam, were constructed during the late 18th and early 19th centuries in a grand neoclassical style intended to reflect Edinburgh‘s status as "the Athens of the North."
Breaking Barriers and Pushing Boundaries in the 19th Century
As the 19th century dawned, the University of Edinburgh continued to lead the way in opening up new fields of study. In 1843, the university established the first Regius Chair of Engineering in the UK, marking a significant step in the development of engineering as an academic discipline distinct from the pure sciences. The department would go on to produce such luminaries as William John Macquorn Rankine, one of the founders of the science of thermodynamics.
The university was also home to pioneering advancements in the humanities. The appointment of the Reverend John Stuart Blackie as Professor of Greek in 1852 helped revitalize the teaching of the classics. Blackie was an ardent champion of Scottish culture and the Gaelic language, and played a key role in the establishment of the first Celtic Chair in Scotland in 1882.
However, like most British universities of the era, Edinburgh remained an exclusively male institution for much of the 19th century. Women were barred not only from matriculating as full students, but even from attending lectures. It wasn‘t until the 1870s that a group of pioneering women known as the Edinburgh Seven began to challenge this status quo. These women, who had enrolled at the university in 1869 with the goal of completing a full course of medical training and obtaining their degrees, faced enormous obstacles and opposition from the male establishment. Although they were ultimately prevented from graduating due to a legal ruling, their struggle garnered national attention and helped pave the way for the eventual admission of women to Scottish universities in 1892.
Into the 20th Century and Beyond
The dawn of the 20th century brought new challenges and opportunities for the University of Edinburgh. The outbreak of World War I saw many students and faculty members enlisted in the war effort, with over 8,000 members of the university community serving in the armed forces. In the interwar years, the university expanded its facilities with the addition of new buildings like the Pollock Halls of Residence and the award-winning Appleton Tower.
During World War II, the university once again made a unique contribution to the war effort by hosting the Polish School of Medicine from 1941 to 1949. Established by the Polish government-in-exile and staffed by professors and doctors from Polish universities, the school provided medical education for soldier-students in the Polish forces and helped preserve Polish academic traditions in the face of Nazi occupation. Over 300 students matriculated through the school before it closed after the war.
In the postwar era, the University of Edinburgh continued to expand and diversify its educational offerings. The 1960s saw the addition of a new science campus at King‘s Buildings and the establishment of the Department of Artificial Intelligence, one of the first of its kind in the world. The latter decades of the 20th century were marked by an increasing focus on international outreach, with the university developing partnerships with institutions across the globe and welcoming a growing number of international students.
The University of Edinburgh Today
Today, the University of Edinburgh is a global leader in higher education and research, consistently ranked among the top 50 universities in the world. With a student body of over 44,000 and a faculty of over 6,000, it is the largest university in Scotland and one of the largest in the UK.
The university offers over 500 undergraduate and 300 postgraduate programs across three colleges: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Science and Engineering; and Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. Its faculty and alumni have won a host of prestigious awards, including 19 Nobel Prizes, 3 Turing Awards, and 1 Fields Medal.
But despite its size and global reach, the university remains deeply rooted in its historic identity and its place in the heart of Edinburgh. Its campus, spread across the city center, juxtaposes centuries-old buildings with cutting-edge facilities, reflecting the institution‘s dual commitment to tradition and innovation.
For visitors to Edinburgh, the university offers a wealth of historical and architectural interest. A self-guided walking tour, using resources provided on the university‘s website, takes in such highlights as the Old College quad, the elegant Playfair Library Hall, and the cutting-edge Informatics Forum. The Talbot Rice Gallery, located in the Old College, hosts regular exhibitions of contemporary art, while the Anatomical Museum houses a fascinating collection of anatomical specimens and teaching models.
Guided tours of the university are also available through a number of external companies such as Mercat Tours and Invisible Cities Edinburgh. These tours provide an opportunity to learn more about the history and architecture of the university, as well as its role in shaping the intellectual and cultural life of the city.
A Legacy of Learning
From its humble beginnings as a small college born out of religious and political upheaval to its current status as a global leader in higher education, the University of Edinburgh has left an indelible mark on the intellectual, scientific, and cultural landscape of Scotland and the world. Its story is one of constant evolution and adaptation, of pushing boundaries and challenging accepted norms in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding.
As the university looks to the future, it remains committed to its founding principles of excellence in education and research, and to its role as a catalyst for innovation and progress. For those who study, teach, or simply visit this venerable institution, the University of Edinburgh offers a tangible connection to a rich legacy of learning that continues to shape our world in profound and enduring ways.
Sources:
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- "Polish School of Medicine at the University of Edinburgh." University of Edinburgh. Accessed April 23, 2023. https://www.ed.ac.uk/medicine-vet-medicine/about/history/polish-school.
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