From photography pioneers – Nelson’s naval surgeon

A book charting the lives of thousands of former students, staff and graduates of the University of St Andrews is launched this week.

Robert Smart’s Biographical Register of the University of St Andrews 1747-1897 is the result of over 40 years research by Dr Smart, the University’s Keeper of Manuscripts and Muniments from 1974 to 1995.

The book comprises ‘biographical sketches’ of almost 12,000 named individuals – students, officers and external graduates of the University during the period covered by Maitland Anderson’s The Matriculation Roll of the University of St Andrews, 1747- 1897 (1905).

The volume includes information about figures as diverse as John and Robert Adamson, St Andrews’ famous photographic pioneers, William Beatty, who was the naval surgeon who tended Nelson at Trafalgar, Elizabeth Garret Anderson who fought for the right of women to study and practice medicine, Edward Jenner, the discoverer of vaccination, James Wilson, signatory to the American Declaration of Independence and Andrew Lang, the renowned Scottish author.

As well as being a source of information for a significant proportion of the UK’s educated class over a century and a half, the work will also interest educational, social, demographic and family historians.

The Register is accompanied by an introduction which explains the entries and provides information about the curriculum, the primary University sources and bursaries. A comprehensive bibliography completes the work, which runs to a total of 1,034 pages.

The Register is published in a limited edition by the University of St Andrews Library on St Andrew’s Day, Tuesday 30 November 2004. To obtain a copy, please contact the University of St Andrews Library, North Street, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9TR or email [email protected].

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS

You are invited to send a reporter/photographer to a launch reception at Lower College Hall, St Salvator’s Quad, North Street, St Andrews at 5.15pm on Thursday 2 December 2004. Around 50 town and gown guests will attend, including Robert Smart himself, and staff from the University Library and School of History.

Further information available from Dr Norman Reid, Keeper of Manuscripts, University of St Andrews Library – telephone 01334 462339.

Issued by Beattie Media On behalf of the University of St Andrews For more information, please contact Claire Grainger, Press Officer – 01334 462530, 07730 415 015 or [email protected]; Ref: press releases/robertsmart View the latest University news at http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk