Alexander William Mair (9 June 1875–13 November 1928) was a 20th century Scottish scholar who was a professor of Greek at the University of Edinburgh. He was an authority on the works of the Greek poet Hesiod.
Life
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Mair was born in Edinburgh on 9 June 1875, the son of Rev Alexander Mair of the United Presbyterian Church. The family lived at 7 Abbotsford Park in the Morningside district.[1] He studied Classics at the University of Cambridge.
In 1899/1900 his father served as the final Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church.[2]
He was a Fellow of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.[3]
In 1908 he took up the position of professor of Greek at the University of Edinburgh, succeeding Samuel Henry Butcher.[4]
He died in a house fire at his home, 9 Corennie Drive, in Morningside, Edinburgh on 13 November 1928, in his study. He is buried in Morningside Cemetery, Edinburgh.[5]
After his death, his position at the university was filled by Arthur Wallace Pickard-Cambridge.
Family
editMair married Elizabeth Mackay Bisset (1882-1950).[6] Together they had 13 children including: Gilbert Mair (the oldest), Gwen, Eileen, Enid, Colin, Hugh (died in infancy) Katharine (1908-1998) and the rugby player Norman Mair (the youngest).
Publications
edit- Hesiod: The Poems and Fragments (1908)
- Callimachus and Lycophron (1921)
- Poems by Alexander william Mair (1929)
- Works and Days
- Fragments and the Shield of Herakles
- Fragments and Theogony
References
edit- ^ Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1875
- ^ Grave of Rev Alexander Mair, Morningside Cemetery
- ^ "Merchistonian Club". www.merchistonians.co.uk. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ "Greek - Our History". ourhistory.is.ed.ac.uk. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ Scotsman (newspaper) 14 Nov 1928
- ^ Grave of A W Mair, Morningside Cemetery
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