Norman Walker Porteous
Encyclopedia
Norman Walker Porteous was a noted theologian
and writer on Old Testament
issues, and the last surviving officer
of the First World War
.
He was one of the panel of translators of the New English Bible
and latterly Dean of the University of Edinburgh
, where he was also Senior Professor Emeritus; he may also have been its oldest graduate.
Porteous entered the University of Edinburgh
as first bursar
in 1916, but his studies were interrupted by World War I service in France
, where he served as a subaltern in the 13th (Service) Battalion, The Royal Scots.
He graduated from the University with first class honours in Classics in 1922. After time spent studying and teaching in Oxford
, St Andrews
and Germany
, he rejoined the University in 1935 when he was appointed to the Chair of Old Testament Language, Literature and Theology.
In 1937 he was appointed to the Chair of Hebrew
and Semitic Languages
. He was Principal of New College
and also Dean of the Faculty from 1964 until his retirement in 1968. He was commissioned into the Edinburgh University Officers' Training Corps in 1941, but resigned his commission as a Lieutenant
in 1945.
Porteous died, having achieved centenarian
status, at almost 105.
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and writer on Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
issues, and the last surviving officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
of the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
He was one of the panel of translators of the New English Bible
New English Bible
The New English Bible is a translation of the Bible into modern English directly from the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic texts . The New Testament was published in 1961...
and latterly Dean of the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, where he was also Senior Professor Emeritus; he may also have been its oldest graduate.
Porteous entered the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
as first bursar
Bursar
A bursar is a senior professional financial administrator in a school or university.Billing of student tuition accounts are the responsibility of the Office of the Bursar. This involves sending bills and making payment plans with the ultimate goal of getting the student accounts paid off...
in 1916, but his studies were interrupted by World War I service in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, where he served as a subaltern in the 13th (Service) Battalion, The Royal Scots.
He graduated from the University with first class honours in Classics in 1922. After time spent studying and teaching in Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, St Andrews
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, he rejoined the University in 1935 when he was appointed to the Chair of Old Testament Language, Literature and Theology.
In 1937 he was appointed to the Chair of Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
and Semitic Languages
Semitic languages
The Semitic languages are a group of related languages whose living representatives are spoken by more than 270 million people across much of the Middle East, North Africa and the Horn of Africa...
. He was Principal of New College
New College, Edinburgh
New College was opened in 1846 as a college of the Free Church of Scotland, later of the United Free Church of Scotland, and from the 1930s has been the home of the School of Divinity of the University of Edinburgh...
and also Dean of the Faculty from 1964 until his retirement in 1968. He was commissioned into the Edinburgh University Officers' Training Corps in 1941, but resigned his commission as a Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in 1945.
Porteous died, having achieved centenarian
Centenarian
A centenarian is a person who is or lives beyond the age of 100 years. Because current average life expectancies across the world are less than 100, the term is invariably associated with longevity. Much rarer, a supercentenarian is a person who has lived to the age of 110 or more, something only...
status, at almost 105.
See also
- Veterans of the First World War who died in 2003Veterans of the First World War who died in 2003The following is a list of known veterans of the First World War who died in 2003.-Australia :-Austria-Hungary/Czechoslovakia :-Barbados :-Belgium :-Canada :...