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Advocates Library
open-in-new
<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>The library was formally opened in 1689. It was an initiative of <a href="/facts/George_Mackenzie_(lawyer)/fugWMwz5">George Mackenzie</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> </p><p>The present library building was designed by <a href="/facts/William_Henry_Playfair/uy6j6z2t">William Henry Playfair</a> in 1830, and is a <a href="/facts/Listed_building/PPx6CnfU">category A listed building</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p><p>Librarian <a href="/facts/Samuel_Halkett/dVtLDR4r">Samuel Halkett</a> began an ambitious catalogue, based on the rules of <a href="/facts/John_Winter_Jones/y7yjDESx">John Winter Jones</a> for the <a href="/facts/British_Museum/mq5LadWV">British Museum</a> catalogue of 1839, but with extensive biographical information on authors. It was published in six volumes, from 1858 to 1878.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> Halkett's successor, <a href="/facts/Thomas_Hill_Jamieson/xXkr4EX0">Thomas Hill Jamieson</a>, had to deal with a fire that damaged some thousands of books on 9 March 1875.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> </p><p>By 1923 the library held around 725,000 books and pamphlets.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="keepers">Keepers</h2> <ul><li>1684–1693 James Nasmith<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> (NB in place before official opening.)</li> <li>1693–1702 James Stevenson<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a></li> <li>1702–1728 John Spottiswoode of that ilk<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a></li> <li>1703–1718 (joint keeper) Adam Colt<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> or Coult<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a></li> <li>1705–1719 (joint keeper) William Forbes<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a></li> <li>1730–1752 <a href="/facts/Thomas_Ruddiman/LYfvEonP">Thomas Ruddiman</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a></li> <li>1735–1766 (assistant keeper) <a href="/facts/Walter_Goodall/p4nWHKc8">Walter Goodall</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a></li> <li>1752–1757 <a href="/facts/David_Hume/aTwlJ80V">David Hume</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a></li> <li>1757–1758 <a href="/facts/Adam_Ferguson/Jfac3x0x">Adam Ferguson</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a></li> <li>1758–1765 William Wallace<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a></li> <li>1766–1794 Alexander Brown<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a></li> <li>1794–1818 Alexander Manners<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a></li> <li>1820–1848 <a href="/facts/David_Irving_(librarian)/gRF0zrz5">David Irving</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a></li> <li>1849–1871 <a href="/facts/Samuel_Halkett/dVtLDR4r">Samuel Halkett</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a></li> <li>1871–1876 <a href="/facts/Thomas_Hill_Jamieson/xXkr4EX0">Thomas Hill Jamieson</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22"><sup>22</sup></a></li> <li>1877–1906 James Toshach Clark<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23"><sup>23</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24"><sup>24</sup></a></li> <li>1906–1925 <a href="/facts/William_Kirk_Dickson/IKdjHJKN">William Kirk Dickson</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25"><sup>25</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26"><sup>26</sup></a></li> <li>1925-1928 James Stevenson Leadbetter<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:27" href="#fn:27"><sup>27</sup></a></li> <li>1928-1948 Robert Candlish Henderson<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:28" href="#fn:28"><sup>28</sup></a></li> <li>1948-1949 Henry Wallace Guthrie<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:29" href="#fn:29"><sup>29</sup></a></li> <li>1949-1956 Thomas Pringle McDonald<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:30" href="#fn:30"><sup>30</sup></a></li> <li>1956-1970 Margaret Henderson Kidd<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:31" href="#fn:31"><sup>31</sup></a></li> <li>1970-1972 Alexander John Mackenzie Stuart<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:32" href="#fn:32"><sup>32</sup></a></li> <li>1972-1977 Charles Kemp Davidson<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:33" href="#fn:33"><sup>33</sup></a></li> <li>1977-1987 John Taylor Cameron<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:34" href="#fn:34"><sup>34</sup></a></li> <li>1987–1994 <a href="/facts/Brian_Gill%2c_Lord_Gill/MM9AcQqY">Brian Gill</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:35" href="#fn:35"><sup>35</sup></a></li> <li>1994-2002 Angus Stewart</li> <li>2002-2004 Edgar Prais</li> <li>2004-2008 Stephen Woolman</li> <li>2008-2021 Mungo Bovey QC</li> <li>2021 Stephen O'Rourke QC<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:36" href="#fn:36"><sup>36</sup></a></li> <li>2022- present Neil Mackenzie KC</li></ul> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Edinburgh_City_Chambers/8sIxaTyV">Edinburgh City Chambers</a></li></ul> <ul><li>Patrick Cadell and Ann Matheson, editors (1989). <i>For the Encouragement of Learning: Scotland's National Library 1689–1989</i>. Edinburgh: HMSO.</li> <li>John St Clair and Roger Craik (1989). <i>The Advocates' Library: 300 Years of a National Institution 1689-1989</i>. Edinburgh HMSO.</li></ul> <h2 id="notes">Notes</h2> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <p> Media related to Advocates Library at Wikimedia Commons </p> <ul><li><a href="http://www.advocates.org.uk/faculty-of-advocates/the-advocates-library">Official website</a> </li></ul> <p><a href="https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Advocates_Library¶ms=55_56_56_N_3_11_29_W_region:GB_type:landmark">55°56′56″N 3°11′29″W / 55.94889°N 3.19139°W / 55.94889; -3.19139</a> </p> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Brewer, E. Cobham (1978) [reprint of 1894 version]. The Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Edwinstowe, England: Avenel Books. p. 17. ISBN 0-517-25921-4. <a href="0-517-25921-4" target="_blank">0-517-25921-4</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Jackson, Clare. "Mackenzie, Sir George, of Rosehaugh". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/17579. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.) <a href="/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography" target="_blank">/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Historic Environment Scotland. "Parliament Square, Advocates' Library, including wall and railings (Category A Listed Building) (LB51179)". Retrieved 18 April 2019. <a href="/wiki/Historic_Environment_Scotland" target="_blank">/wiki/Historic_Environment_Scotland</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Cadell & Matheson, pp. 211–2. <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Brown, Iain Gordon. "Jamieson, Thomas Hill". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/14644. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.) <a href="/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography" target="_blank">/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"Gift to nation. National Library for Scotland. Generous Edinburgh donor". The Glasgow Herald. 29 June 1923. p. 10. Retrieved 3 March 2017. <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ipdAAAAAIBAJ&pg=3497%2C7826255" target="_blank">https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ipdAAAAAIBAJ&pg=3497%2C7826255</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Cadell & Matheson, pp. 292–6. <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Cadell & Matheson, pp. 292–6. <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"Spottiswoode, John". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/26168. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.) <a href="/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography" target="_blank">/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Cadell & Matheson, pp. 292–6. <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Cadell & Matheson, p. 41. <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Cadell & Matheson, pp. 292–6. <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Cadell & Matheson, pp. 292–6. <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Cadell & Matheson, pp. 292–6. <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Cadell & Matheson, pp. 292–6. <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>Oz-Salzberger, Fania. "Ferguson, Adam". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/9315. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.) <a href="/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography" target="_blank">/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>Cadell & Matheson, pp. 292–6. <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>Cadell & Matheson, pp. 292–6. <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>Cadell & Matheson, pp. 292–6. <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>Ovenden, Richard. "Irving, David". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/14472. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.) <a href="/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography" target="_blank">/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:21"><p>Cadell & Matheson, pp. 292–6. <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:22"><p>Brown, Iain Gordon. "Jamieson, Thomas Hill". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/14644. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.) <a href="/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography" target="_blank">/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:23"><p>Cadell & Matheson, pp. 292–6. <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:24"><p>"Edinburgh exhibition postponed". Otago Witness. No. 2712. 7 March 1906. p. 13. Retrieved 20 July 2021. <a href="https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW19060307.2.51" target="_blank">https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW19060307.2.51</a> <a href="#fnref:24" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:25"><p>Bell, Alan. "Dickson, William Kirk". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/72368. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.) <a href="/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography" target="_blank">/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography</a> <a href="#fnref:25" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:26"><p>"Edinburgh exhibition postponed". Otago Witness. No. 2712. 7 March 1906. p. 13. Retrieved 20 July 2021. <a href="https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW19060307.2.51" target="_blank">https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW19060307.2.51</a> <a href="#fnref:26" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:27"><p>St Clair and Craik p76 <a href="#fnref:27" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:28"><p>St Clair and Craik p76 <a href="#fnref:28" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:29"><p>St Clair and Craik p76 <a href="#fnref:29" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:30"><p>St Clair and Craik p76 <a href="#fnref:30" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:31"><p>St Clair and Craik p76 <a href="#fnref:31" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:32"><p>St Clair and Craik p76 <a href="#fnref:32" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:33"><p>St Clair and Craik p76 <a href="#fnref:33" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:34"><p>St Clair and Craik p76 <a href="#fnref:34" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:35"><p>St Clair and Craik p76 <a href="#fnref:35" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:36"><p>"Obituary: Stephen O'Rourke, Principal Crown Counsel and Keeper of the Advocates Library". The Scotsman. <a href="https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/obituary-stephen-orourke-principal-crown-counsel-and-keeper-of-the-advocates-library-3642169" target="_blank">https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/obituary-stephen-orourke-principal-crown-counsel-and-keeper-of-the-advocates-library-3642169</a> <a href="#fnref:36" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>