James Muirhead (13 November 1830 – 8 November 1889) was a 19th-century Scottish scholar and Professor of Civil Law at Edinburgh University. He gives his name to the Muirhead Prize in Civil Law at the University.[1]
He was educated at Edinburgh Academy around 500m north of his home. He left in 1845 and was trained as a merchant in his father's premises in Leith and sent to Lille in north France to learn French. However he instead decided to study law and returned to Edinburgh to study at Edinburgh University then went to Germany in 1854 to complete his studies at Heidelberg University.[3]
He was admitted into the Faculty of Advocates on 31 January 1857. He was admitted to the English bar on 6 June 1857. He is rare in having passed both the Scottish and English bar but this versatility equipped him to consider both Scots and English law in his teaching. In June 1862, aged 31, he was appointed Professor of Civil Law at Edinburgh University, at a salary of £250 per annum, replacing Prof Archibald Campbell Swinton. This important new role in the university was brought about by the Universities (Scotland) Act of 1858 which created a new degree of LLB which was awarded as a postgraduate degree following receipt of an MA degree. The new component of "Civil Law" was based upon Roman Law which is a cornerstone of Scots Law, in comparison to English Law which hinges upon Norman law.[4]
In 1862 he wrote an important legal treatise on the assimilation of Scots and English marriage laws (but these remain quite different). At this stage he lived at 61 Northumberland Street, close to his parental home.[5]
He became ill in October 1889 shortly after attending the opening of Teviot Row Student Union. He died at his home, 2 Drumsheugh Gardens in Edinburgh's West End, on 8 November 1889.[4] He is buried nearby in Dean Cemetery. The grave lies on the central east-west path just south of the large memorial to the 79th Highlanders.
He left a huge library of law books, many of German origin, which were sold after his death. Most were purchased by Manchester University but Edinburgh still retains some of the more valuable volumes.[6]
Familyedit
He married Jemima Locke Eastlake (d.1891) in London on 14 April 1857. She was the daughter of George Eastlake of Plymouth, Depute Judge Advocate of the British Fleet, and niece of Charles Locke Eastlake. Charles' wife, Elizabeth Eastlake was a writer who lived in Edinburgh from 1842 to 1849. As a writer she had reason to frequent James's father Claud Muirhead. It is likely that this is how James met Jemima, when she was visiting her aunt in Edinburgh.[7]
James and Jemima had one son and one daughter but the son (Claude James) died in infancy in 1869.[8]
His brothers Claud Muirhead (1835–1910) and William Muir Muirhead (1838–1911) were both a doctor. All three were educated at Edinburgh Academy.[9]
james, muirhead, scholar, james, muirhead, november, 1830, november, 1889, 19th, century, scottish, scholar, professor, civil, edinburgh, university, gives, name, muirhead, prize, civil, university, professorjames, muirheadborn, 1830, november, 1830edinburgh, . James Muirhead 13 November 1830 8 November 1889 was a 19th century Scottish scholar and Professor of Civil Law at Edinburgh University He gives his name to the Muirhead Prize in Civil Law at the University 1 ProfessorJames MuirheadBorn 1830 11 13 November 13 1830Edinburgh ScotlandDiedNovember 8 1889 1889 11 08 aged 58 Edinburgh ScotlandOccupationProfessor of civil law at the University of EdinburghSpouseJemima Locke Eastlake Married 1857 Children1 son 1 daughter Parent s Claud Muirhead Mary Watson Contents 1 Life 2 Family 3 Artistic recognition 4 References 5 External linksLife edit nbsp The grave of James Muirhead Dean Cemetery James Muirhead was born on at 7 Heriot Row Edinburgh 2 the eldest of five sons of Claud Muirhead a printer and publisher of the Edinburgh Advertiser and his wife Mary Watson The family also owned the huge Gogar Park estate just west of the city now serving as the Royal Bank of Scotland headquarters He was educated at Edinburgh Academy around 500m north of his home He left in 1845 and was trained as a merchant in his father s premises in Leith and sent to Lille in north France to learn French However he instead decided to study law and returned to Edinburgh to study at Edinburgh University then went to Germany in 1854 to complete his studies at Heidelberg University 3 He was admitted into the Faculty of Advocates on 31 January 1857 He was admitted to the English bar on 6 June 1857 He is rare in having passed both the Scottish and English bar but this versatility equipped him to consider both Scots and English law in his teaching In June 1862 aged 31 he was appointed Professor of Civil Law at Edinburgh University at a salary of 250 per annum replacing Prof Archibald Campbell Swinton This important new role in the university was brought about by the Universities Scotland Act of 1858 which created a new degree of LLB which was awarded as a postgraduate degree following receipt of an MA degree The new component of Civil Law was based upon Roman Law which is a cornerstone of Scots Law in comparison to English Law which hinges upon Norman law 4 In 1862 he wrote an important legal treatise on the assimilation of Scots and English marriage laws but these remain quite different At this stage he lived at 61 Northumberland Street close to his parental home 5 He became ill in October 1889 shortly after attending the opening of Teviot Row Student Union He died at his home 2 Drumsheugh Gardens in Edinburgh s West End on 8 November 1889 4 He is buried nearby in Dean Cemetery The grave lies on the central east west path just south of the large memorial to the 79th Highlanders He left a huge library of law books many of German origin which were sold after his death Most were purchased by Manchester University but Edinburgh still retains some of the more valuable volumes 6 Family editHe married Jemima Locke Eastlake d 1891 in London on 14 April 1857 She was the daughter of George Eastlake of Plymouth Depute Judge Advocate of the British Fleet and niece of Charles Locke Eastlake Charles wife Elizabeth Eastlake was a writer who lived in Edinburgh from 1842 to 1849 As a writer she had reason to frequent James s father Claud Muirhead It is likely that this is how James met Jemima when she was visiting her aunt in Edinburgh 7 James and Jemima had one son and one daughter but the son Claude James died in infancy in 1869 8 His brothers Claud Muirhead 1835 1910 and William Muir Muirhead 1838 1911 were both a doctor All three were educated at Edinburgh Academy 9 Artistic recognition editHis sketch portrait by William Brassey Hole is held at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery but is rarely displayed 10 References edit Law scholarships and prizes 14 December 2021 Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1830 Heriot Row History a b Cairns John W 1999 James Muirhead Teacher Scholar Book Collector PDF Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1867 Heriot Row History ODNB James Muirhead Grave of James Muirhead Dean Cemetery Claud Muirhead Edinburgh Medical Journal 5 1 62 65 1910 PMC 5254725 Professor James Muirhead 1830 1889 Professor of Civil Law at Edinburgh University External links editWorks by or about James Muirhead at Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Muirhead scholar amp oldid 1222147928, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
