William Richardson (academic)
Encyclopedia
William Richardson FRSE (1 October 1743 – 3 November 1814) was a Scottish
classicist and literary scholar.
Born in Aberfoyle, Perthshire
, he was the son of James Richardson, the Church of Scotland
parish minister of the same parish in which William was first educated. William attended the University of Glasgow
in 1757 where he focused on his talent for learning languages. He graduated from the University in 1763 and was employed by Charles Cathcart, 9th Lord Cathcart
, as tutor to his two sons.
William travelled to Russia
with the Cathcart family, after Lord Cathcart was appointed ambassador to Russia in 1768. It was during these travels that Richardson described Russia through a series of letters. He later had them published, in 1784, under the title Anecdotes of the Russian Empire; in a series of letters, written, a few years ago, from St. Petersburg. These letters would later go down as a very accurate detail of Russian society.
After returning to Scotland in 1772, Richardson was appointed professor of humanities
at the University of Glasgow in 1773. With the ability to attract many great scholars, and also being a very popular lecturer, Glasgow became a prestigious institution. Richardson would also publish five works criticizing Shakespeare. Richardson was very interested in not only English literature
, but he also read German, Italian, and French literature. He died a single man in Glasgow.
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
classicist and literary scholar.
Born in Aberfoyle, Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
, he was the son of James Richardson, the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
parish minister of the same parish in which William was first educated. William attended the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
in 1757 where he focused on his talent for learning languages. He graduated from the University in 1763 and was employed by Charles Cathcart, 9th Lord Cathcart
Charles Cathcart, 9th Lord Cathcart
General Charles Schaw Cathcart, 9th Lord Cathcart was a British soldier and diplomat. He was also chief of the Clan Cathcart.The son of Charles Cathcart, 8th Lord Cathcart and Marion Shaw, he was born on 21 March 1721...
, as tutor to his two sons.
William travelled to Russia
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
with the Cathcart family, after Lord Cathcart was appointed ambassador to Russia in 1768. It was during these travels that Richardson described Russia through a series of letters. He later had them published, in 1784, under the title Anecdotes of the Russian Empire; in a series of letters, written, a few years ago, from St. Petersburg. These letters would later go down as a very accurate detail of Russian society.
After returning to Scotland in 1772, Richardson was appointed professor of humanities
Professor of Humanity, Glasgow
The Professor of Humanity is a Professorship at the University of Glasgow. Under the Nova Erectio of James VI the teaching of Latin was in the responsibility of the Regents. The title of Professor of Humanity was, on occasion, attached to one of the Regents' number from 1618.A separate Chair was...
at the University of Glasgow in 1773. With the ability to attract many great scholars, and also being a very popular lecturer, Glasgow became a prestigious institution. Richardson would also publish five works criticizing Shakespeare. Richardson was very interested in not only English literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
, but he also read German, Italian, and French literature. He died a single man in Glasgow.
Archives
The archives for William Richardson are maintained by the Archives of the University of Glasgow (GUAS)Archives of the University of Glasgow
The Archives of the University of Glasgow maintain the historical records of the University of Glasgow back to its foundation in 1451. Its earliest record is a charter dating from 1304 for the lands of the earliest mention of record-keeping in the University is in 1490 when it is recorded in...
.