James Anderson (lawyer)
James Anderson (5 August 1662 – 3 April 1728),
Education and career
He was educated for the law, and became a
At this work he laboured for several years; but it was not completed at his death in 1728. The book was published posthumously in 1739, edited by Thomas Ruddiman, under the title Selectus Diplomatum et Numismatum Scotiae Thesaurus. Ruddiman also produced a translation into Scots.[4] The preparation of this great national work was expensive; and soon after his death, the numerous plates, engraved by John Sturt, were sold for £530. These plates are now lost, and the book has become exceedingly scarce.[3]
Anderson was appointed in 1715 Postmaster General for Scotland, as some compensation for his labours; but in the political struggles of 1717 he was deprived of this office, and never again obtained any reward for his services.[3]
Anderson had a significant personal library which included a substantial collection of works by English historians.[5]
Advocacy of Scottish independence
He published, during the controversy about whether Scotland was bound by the Act of Settlement 1701 or not, An Historical Essay showing that the Crown and Kingdom of Scotland is Imperial and Independent (Edinburgh, 1705), and later Collections relating to the History of Mary Queen of Scotland (in 4 vols, Edin., 1727–1728),[3] both of which were later used extensively by his great-nephew, the historian William Robertson.
See also
References
- ^ M'Crie, Thomas, D.D. the younger (1847). The Bass rock: Its civil and ecclesiastic history. Edinburgh: J. Greig & Son. p. 270. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Murray, Thomas (1863). Biographical Annals of the Parish of Colinton. Edinburgh: Edmonston & Douglas. pp. 7-8. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
- ^ a b c d Chisholm 1911.
- ^ Ruddiman, Thomas (1773). An Introduction to Mr James Anderson's Diplomata Scotiæ.: To which is Added Notes, Taken from ... Edinburgh: Charles Herriott. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
- ^ "James Anderson 1662–1728 – Book Owners Online". bookowners.online. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Anderson, James". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 959.
Further reading
- Chambers, Robert; Thomson, Thomas Napier (1857). . A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen. Vol. 1. Glasgow: Blackie and Son. pp. 54–55 – via Wikisource.
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