Fraserburgh University

Last updated
University of Fraserburgh
College Bounds, Fraserburgh - geograph.org.uk - 4522303.jpg
College Bounds, a possible site of the university.
Active1592–1605
Founder Sir Alexander Fraser
Location, ,
Campus University town

The University of Fraserburgh was a short-lived university founded in 1592 in Fraserburgh, Scotland by Sir Alexander Fraser of Philorth.

Contents

History

In 1592, Fraserburgh became a Burgh of royalty, despite protests from Aberdeen. In the same year, Fraser gained a charter to establish a university there, with the general assembly of the town quickly supporting it, offering the patronage of two of the town's churches. [1] It is likely that Earl Marischal's personal rivalry with Fraser resulted in him founding Marischal College in Aberdeen. [2] The university was confirmed in 1597 by parliament, who agreed to reimburse the costs of establishing it, and the general assembly granted land to Fraser for the university.

Fraserburgh South Kirk, site of Moses Tablet Fraserburgh south kirk - geograph.org.uk - 5787030.jpg
Fraserburgh South Kirk, site of Moses Tablet

Charles Ferme was made the principal of the university in 1600, [3] which was at this point a 'spacious quadrangular building', three stories in height. [4] However, after Charles was sent to prison for taking part in the general assembly of Aberdeen, the university failed to develop and was closed around 1605. There is no record of any teaching taking place.

During the 1647 plague brakeout in Aberdeen, King's College was temporarily moved to the old college buildings. The college buildings were demolished by the early 18th century. [5] The only surviving part of the college is the Moses Tablet, now built into the interior wall of Fraserburgh South Parish Church. [6]

Legacy

In the Fraserburgh Heritage Centre, there is a plaque commemorating the university's existence.[ citation needed ]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fraserburgh</span> Town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Fraserburgh, locally known as the Broch, is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, with a population recorded in the 2011 Census as 13,100. It lies in Buchan in the northeastern corner of the county, about 40 miles (64 km) north of Aberdeen and 17 miles (27 km) north of Peterhead. It is the biggest shellfish port in Scotland and one of the largest in Europe, landing over 5,450 tonnes in 2016. Fraserburgh is also a major port for white and pelagic fish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Aberdeen</span> Public research university in Scotland

The University of Aberdeen is a public research university in Aberdeen, Scotland. It was founded in 1495 when William Elphinstone, Bishop of Aberdeen and Chancellor of Scotland, petitioned Pope Alexander VI on behalf of James IV, King of Scots to establish King's College, making it one of Scotland's four ancient universities and the fifth-oldest university in the English-speaking world. Along with the universities of St Andrews, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, the university was part of the Scottish Enlightenment during the 18th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marischal College</span> Civic Building in Aberdeen, Scotland

Marischal College is a large granite building on Broad Street in the centre of Aberdeen in north-east Scotland, and since 2011 has been the headquarters of Aberdeen City Council. The building was constructed for and is on long-term lease from the University of Aberdeen, which still uses parts of the building to store its museum collections. Today, it provides corporate office space and public access to council services, adjacent to the Town House, the city's historic seat of local government. It is the second largest granite building in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inverallochy and Cairnbulg</span> Human settlement in Scotland

The villages of Inverallochy and Cairnbulg lie some 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Fraserburgh, in North East Scotland. It formerly consisted of the three fishing villages of Brandesburgh, Cairnbulg and Inverallochy, but the former village has since disappeared.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kinnaird Head</span> Place in Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Kinnaird Head is a headland projecting into the North Sea, within the town of Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, on the east coast of Scotland. The 16th-century Kinnaird Castle was converted in 1787 for use as the Kinnaird Head Lighthouse, the first lighthouse in Scotland to be lit by the Commissioners of Northern Lights. Kinnaird Castle and the nearby Wine Tower were described by W. Douglas Simpson as two of the nine castles of the Knuckle, referring to the rocky headland of north-east Aberdeenshire. The lighthouse is a category A listed building. and the Wine Tower. is a scheduled monument. The buildings around the base of the lighthouse are the work of Robert Stevenson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clan Fraser</span> Lowland Scottish clan

Clan Fraser is a Scottish clan of the Scottish Lowlands. It is not to be confused with the Clan Fraser of Lovat who are a separate Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands. Both clans have their own separate chief, both of whom are officially recognized by the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.

The Frasers of Philorth are a Scottish lowland family, originally from the Anjou region of France. Castle Fraser, their family seat, is in Sauchen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Since the time of Alexander Fraser, 11th Lord Saltoun, the heads of the Philorth family are the Lords Saltoun. The current head of the Frasers of Philorth is Flora Fraser, 21st Lady Saltoun, who is Chief of the Name and Arms of Clan Fraser since 1 May 1984, by decree of the Court of the Lord Lyon. The family's arms are "azure, three cinquefoils argent"—three silver strawberry flowers on a field of blue. The heraldic cinquefoil is a stylized five-point leaf; the cinquefoils which appear on the Fraser of Philorth coat-of-arms are specifically strawberry flowers. Only the Lady or Lord Saltoun is permitted to display these arms plain and undifferenced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Keith, 5th Earl Marischal</span> Scottish politician

George Keith, 5th Earl Marischal (c. 1553–1623) was a Scottish nobleman and Earl Marischal. He succeeded as earl on 7 October 1581, upon the death of his grandfather, William Keith, 4th Earl Marischal.

Alexander Fraser, 11th Lord Saltoun, was a Scottish peer and the 10th Laird of Philorth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cairnbulg Castle</span> 14th-century castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK

Cairnbulg Castle is a z-plan castle situated in Cairnbulg, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It was described by W. Douglas Simpson as one of the nine castles of the Knuckle, referring to the rocky headland of north-east Aberdeenshire. It stands by the River Philorth and was originally known as Philorth Castle. The 17th-century Philorth Castle, an L-plan house consisting of a sizeable crow-stepped block, was demolished after a fire in 1915.

William Fraser, 12th Lord Saltoun, was a Scottish peer and the 11th Laird of Philorth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fraserburgh Old Parish Church</span> Church in Fraserburgh, Scotland

Fraserburgh Old Parish Church is a congregation of the Church of Scotland in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. The present building was erected in 1803 at the head of the High Street, on the site of a 16th-century church. The church is a category B listed building.

Charles Ferm, Ferme, Farholme or Fairholm, was a leading campaigning Presbyterian minister in the Church of Scotland, and the Principal of the short lived Fraserburgh University, Scotland.

The Sheriff of Aberdeen was a royal official who was responsible for enforcing justice in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Prior to 1748 most sheriffdoms were held on a hereditary basis. From that date, following the Jacobite uprising of 1745, they were replaced by salaried sheriff-deputies, qualified advocates who were members of the Scottish Bar.

Before the Acts of Union 1707, the barons of the shire of Aberdeen elected commissioners to represent them in the unicameral Parliament of Scotland and in the Convention of the Estates. The number of commissioners was increased from two to four in 1690.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Thomson of Banchory</span> Scottish advocate, agriculturalist, antiquary, author, philanthropist and traveller

Alexander Thomson of Banchory FRSE (1798–1868) was a 19th-century Scottish advocate, agriculturalist, antiquary, author, philanthropist and traveller. He owned an estate at Banchory-Devenick in Aberdeenshire. After qualifying as an advocate in Edinburgh he returned to the estate and did not pursue a career at the bar preferring to follow the life of a country gentleman. He travelled extensively in Europe, spending many years studying overseas. He settled crofters on his estate and planted many trees. His position in life allowed to give time to many interests including antiquarian studies, geology, biology and social reform. He attempted to unite Marischal and King's Colleges in Aberdeen University. At the Dirsuption he sided with the Free Church and was a prominent leader in that cause. He died in 1868 and bequeathed a sizeable museum and collection of books to the church. He also gave a substantial amount of money to set up a Free Church College in Aberdeen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greyfriars Church, Aberdeen</span> Historic building in Aberdeen, Scotland

Greyfriars Church is a Category A Listed building in Aberdeen, Scotland. It was designed by the architect Alexander Marshall Mackenzie and built in 1903. It is situated on Broad Street and forms the south-east corner of Marischal College, also designed by Mackenzie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Fraser (died 1623)</span>

Alexander Fraser of Philorth was a Scottish landowner and founder of Fraserburgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fraserburgh Town House</span> Municipal building in Fraserburgh, Scotland

Fraserburgh Town House is a municipal building in Saltoun Square, Fraserburgh, Scotland. The building, which was the headquarters of Fraserburgh Burgh Council, is a Category B listed building.

References

  1. Wells, R. P. (2004). "Fraser, Sir Alexander, of Philorth (1537?–1623), founder of Fraserburgh" . Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/10099 . Retrieved 2024-05-18.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. Reid, Steven John (November 2007). "Aberdeen's 'Toun College': Marischal College, 1593–1623". The Innes Review. 58 (2): 173–195. doi:10.3366/E0020157X07000054. ISSN   0020-157X.
  3. "Charles Ferme (1565 or 6-1617) - Our History". ourhistory.is.ed.ac.uk. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  4. "Fraserburgh, College Bounds | Canmore". canmore.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  5. "Aberdeenshire Council Historic Environment Record - Aberdeenshire - NJ96NE0028 - FRASERBURGH". online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  6. Granite, Grey (2013-08-11). "Walking The Line: Fraserburgh South Church, the Moses Stone and Fraserburgh University". Walking The Line. Retrieved 2024-05-18.