 College Bounds, a possible site of the university. | |
| Type | Ancient University |
|---|---|
| Active | 1592–1605/1617 |
| 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.
In 1592, Fraserburgh (prior to that known as Faithlie) became a Burgh of royalty, despite protests from Aberdeen over what they viewed as an infringement on their rights. In the same year, [1] Fraser gained a charter to establish a university or college there, [2] [3] with the general assembly of the town quickly supporting it, offering the patronage of two of the town's churches (Tyrie and Rathen). [4] [5] It is likely that Earl Marischal's personal rivalry with Fraser resulted in him founding Marischal College in Aberdeen. [6] The university was confirmed in 1597 by parliament, who agreed to reimburse the costs of establishing it, since Fraser had expended much of his fortune on the scheme, and the general assembly granted land to Fraser for the university.
Charles Ferme, an alumnus of the University of Edinburgh who had previously been made Minister of Philorth in 1598 (as Fraser had insisted that whoever took the charge as minister would also have to be the principal), [7] was made the principal of the university in 1600, [8] [9] which was at this point a 'spacious quadrangular building', three stories in height, located to the west of the town. [10] [11] However, after Ferme was sent to prison for taking part in the general assembly of Aberdeen, now without a principal, the university failed to develop and was ceased to function around 1605. There is no record of any teaching taking place; [12] however, it has been assumed the teaching was similar to that at Marischal College. [13]
In 1609, Ferme was restored to his parish and college, where he continued to teach until his death in 1617. [8] [14] The writing by Ferme (such as the lost Lectiones in Esterem and the surviving Analysis logica in epistolam apostoli Pauli ad Romanos) indicate that teaching did take place, with John Adamson noting 'with what zeal he taught at Fraserburgh'. After the death of Ferme, the college fell into decay, losing out to Marischal College, and consequently closed for good. [15]
During the 1647 plague breakout in Aberdeen, King's College was temporarily moved to the old college buildings. [16] [17]
The college buildings were mostly demolished by the early 18th century. [18] A house to the left of the town was said to have been built with materials taken from the college, with four of the stones bearing inscriptions. [13] In the mid 19th century, Rev. A. Gruar Forbes described the remains of the college:
The old tower can scarcely be said to be still extant. It has been reduced to a heap, and is almost covered with soil and herbage. Last time I saw it there was a couple of goats feeding on the top of it.
The only surviving part of the college is the Moses Tablet (or Moses Stone), [19] previously set in the wall above the door of the parish school, now built into the interior wall of Fraserburgh South Parish Church, having been moved inside the building in October 1969, funded by the town council. [20] [21]
In the Fraserburgh Heritage Centre, there is a plaque commemorating the university's existence.[ citation needed ]
Aberdeen is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous Scottish city. Historically, Aberdeen was within the historic county of Aberdeenshire, but is now separate from the council area of Aberdeenshire.
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.
Alexander Gerard FRSE was a Scottish minister, academic and philosophical writer. In 1764 he was the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
Aberdeenshire or the County of Aberdeen is a historic county in Scotland. The county gives its name to the modern Aberdeenshire council area, which covers a larger area than the historic county. The historic county ceased to be used for local government purposes in 1975, but its boundaries are still used for certain functions, being a registration county. The area of the historic county excluding the Aberdeen City council area is also a lieutenancy area.
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.
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.
The Frasers of Philorth are a Scottish lowlands 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 Katharine Fraser, 22nd Lady Saltoun, who is Chief of the Name and Arms of Clan Fraser. 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.
Peter Blackburn (d.1616) was a Scottish scholar and prelate. He was the second Protestant Bishop of Aberdeen.
Alexander Fraser, 11th Lord Saltoun, was a Scottish peer and the 10th Laird of Philorth.
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.
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.
William Guild (1586–1657) was a Scottish Presbyterian minister, academic and theological writer.
Alexander Jolly was bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness in the Scottish Episcopal Church.
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.
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.
Andrew Ramsay (1574–1659) was a minister of the Church of Scotland, academic at the University of Edinburgh, and writer of Latin poetry.
Alexander Fraser of Philorth was a Scottish landowner and founder of Fraserburgh.