William Forbes Skene
Author
1809 – 1892
Who was William Forbes Skene?
William Forbes Skene, Scottish historian and antiquary, was the second son of Sir Walter Scott's friend, James Skene, of Rubislaw, near Aberdeen.
He was educated at Edinburgh Academy in Edinburgh and at the University of St Andrews, taking an especial interest in the study of Celtic philology and literature. In 1832, he became a Writer to the Signet, and shortly afterwards obtained an official appointment in the bill department of the Court of Session, which he held until 1865. His early interest in the history and antiquities of the Scottish Highlands bore its first fruit in 1837, when he published The Highlanders of Scotland, their Origin, History and Antiquities.
In 1847, during the Highland Potato Famine, he was appointed Secretary to the Central Board for Highland Relief. In this position he worked closely with Sir Charles Trevelyan, Assistant Secretary to the Treasury.
His chief work, however, is his Celtic Scotland, a History of Ancient Alban, perhaps the most important contribution to Scottish history written during the 19th century. In 1879 he was made a Doctor of Civil Law of the University of Oxford, and in 1881 Historiographer Royal for Scotland. He died in Edinburgh on 29 August 1892.
We need you!
Help us build the largest biographies collection on the web!
- Born
- Jun 7, 1809
- Also known as
- W. F. Skene
- Education
- University of St Andrews
- Edinburgh Academy
- Died
- Aug 29, 1892
Submitted
on July 23, 2013
Citation
Use the citation below to add to a bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"William Forbes Skene." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 6 May 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/william_forbes_skene>.
Discuss this William Forbes Skene biography with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In