The University of Edinburgh natural history class lists 1782-1800

Abstract

In 1779 Revd Dr John Walker was appointed to be the University of Edinburgh’s Professor of Natural History. Because of the institutional structure of the university, he took care to keep detailed class lists from 1782 to 1800. These are extant in the University of Edinburgh’s Special Collections Department. As many of the students on the lists would go on to have a profound impact on the practice of nineteenth century natural history, I have compiled them into a table so that they can be used as a reference tool for those interested in the study of natural history in Edinburgh during the late eighteenth century. The table is arranged into columns that state the student’s name, degree, year of attendance and geographic origin. To help the reader better understand the table, I have written a brief introductory essay that addresses Walker’s organisation of the course and the types of students who attended the lectures. It also identifies the prominent role played by chemistry in Edinburgh’s natural history community and discusses the foundation of the Student Natural History Society of Edinburgh.