Alexander William Mair

Professor Alexander William Mair (9 June 1875–13 November 1928) was a 20th century Scottish scholar who was Professor of Greek at the University of Edinburgh. He was an authority on the works of the Greek poet Hesiod.

Life[]

The grave of Professor Alexander William Mair, Morningside Cemetery

He 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 Professor Samuel Henry Butcher.^[4]

He died in a house fire at his home, 9 Corennie Drive, in Morningside, Edinburgh on 13 November 1928, dying in his study. He is buried in Morningside Cemetery, Edinburgh.^[5]

After his death, his position at the University was filled by Sir Arthur Wallace Pickard-Cambridge.

Family[]

He 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[]

• 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[]

This biography of a Scottish academic is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

• v
• t