Thomas Barclay (scholar)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Barclay was professor at Toulouse
and Poitiers
.
Barclay was one of the numerous Scottish scholars who, in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, studied in foreign universities, where they, in many cases, ultimately became professors. He was a native of Aberdeen
, but as a young man studied humane letters and philosophy
at Bordeaux
. Here, we are told, his success was such as to merit the special praise of 'that Phœnix of Greek and Latin learning', Robert Balfour
, the Aristotelian scholar, whose edition of 'Cleomedes' has remained the standard work on that author to almost our own days. The reputation acquired by Barclay at Bordeaux led to his being called to preside over the 'Squillanean' school at Toulouse, where the Scottish historian Dempster
tells us he served his first literary campaign under his fellow-countryman's guidance.
This fact supplies us with an approximate date, for it was about 1596 that Dempster left Paris
, intending to work his way to Toulouse
. At this town, the birthplace of Cujas
, the great founder of the systematic study of ancient and modern law, Barclay's attention was directed to this subject; and finding himself unable to pursue this branch of learning in its native place, he accepted the offer of a regius professorship at Poitiers. His fame and his eloquence while holding this office soon procured his recall to Toulouse, where he was still living when Dempster drew up his 'Historia Ecclesiastica' about 1620. Dempster tells us that his lectures on civil law
were largely attended. There seems to be no record of the precise date of his birth or his death. In some biographical works they are given as 1582–1619; but this is almost certainly due to a confusion of Thomas Barclay with his namesake, John Barclay, the author of the 'Argenis'. For in this case he would be holding his first, if not his second, professorship at about the age of fourteen, and would at the same time, though a younger man, be the instructor of such a prodigy of learning as Dempster.
Barclay's chief works are said to have been commentaries on Aristotle
, and dissertations on certain titles of the Pandects. The last probably implies a confusion with William Barclay
.
University of Toulouse
The Université de Toulouse is a consortium of French universities, grandes écoles and other institutions of higher education and research, named after one of the earliest universities established in Europe in 1229, and including the successor universities to that earlier university...
and Poitiers
University of Poitiers
The University of Poitiers is a university in Poitiers, France. It is a member of the Coimbra Group.-History:Founded in 1431 by Pope Eugene IV and chartered by King Charles VII, the University of Poitiers was originally composed of five faculties: theology, canon law, civil law, medicine, and...
.
Barclay was one of the numerous Scottish scholars who, in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, studied in foreign universities, where they, in many cases, ultimately became professors. He was a native of Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, but as a young man studied humane letters and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at Bordeaux
University of Bordeaux
University of Bordeaux is an association of higher education institutions in and around Bordeaux, France. Its current incarnation was established 21 March 2007. The group is the largest system of higher education schools in southwestern France. It is part of the Academy of Bordeaux.There are seven...
. Here, we are told, his success was such as to merit the special praise of 'that Phœnix of Greek and Latin learning', Robert Balfour
Robert Balfour
Robert Balfour was a Scottish philosopher.He was educated at the University of St Andrews and the University of Paris...
, the Aristotelian scholar, whose edition of 'Cleomedes' has remained the standard work on that author to almost our own days. The reputation acquired by Barclay at Bordeaux led to his being called to preside over the 'Squillanean' school at Toulouse, where the Scottish historian Dempster
Thomas Dempster
Thomas Dempster was a Scottish scholar and historian. Born into the aristocracy in Aberdeenshire, which comprises regions of both the Scottish highlands and the Scottish lowlands, he was sent abroad as a youth for his education. The Dempsters were Catholic in an increasingly Protestant country and...
tells us he served his first literary campaign under his fellow-countryman's guidance.
This fact supplies us with an approximate date, for it was about 1596 that Dempster left Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, intending to work his way to Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
. At this town, the birthplace of Cujas
Jacques Cujas
Jacques Cujas was a French legal expert. He was prominent among the legal humanists or mos gallicus school, which sought to abandon the work of the medieval Commentators and concentrate on ascertaining the correct text and social context of the original works of Roman law.He was born at...
, the great founder of the systematic study of ancient and modern law, Barclay's attention was directed to this subject; and finding himself unable to pursue this branch of learning in its native place, he accepted the offer of a regius professorship at Poitiers. His fame and his eloquence while holding this office soon procured his recall to Toulouse, where he was still living when Dempster drew up his 'Historia Ecclesiastica' about 1620. Dempster tells us that his lectures on civil law
Civil law
Civil law may refer to:* Civil law , a branch of continental law which is the general part of private law* Civil law , a branch of common law dealing with relations between individuals or organizations...
were largely attended. There seems to be no record of the precise date of his birth or his death. In some biographical works they are given as 1582–1619; but this is almost certainly due to a confusion of Thomas Barclay with his namesake, John Barclay, the author of the 'Argenis'. For in this case he would be holding his first, if not his second, professorship at about the age of fourteen, and would at the same time, though a younger man, be the instructor of such a prodigy of learning as Dempster.
Barclay's chief works are said to have been commentaries on Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
, and dissertations on certain titles of the Pandects. The last probably implies a confusion with William Barclay
William Barclay (jurist)
William Barclay was a Scottish jurist.-Life:He was born in Aberdeenshire in 1546. Educated at the University of Aberdeen, he went to France in 1573, and studied law at the University of Bourges, where he took his doctor's degree...
.