David Laird Adams (1837–1892) was a Scottish academic who was professor of
Hebrew
Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...
and
oriental languages
A wide variety of languages are spoken throughout Asia, comprising different language families and some unrelated isolates. The major language families include Austroasiatic, Austronesian, Caucasian, Dravidian, Indo-European, Afroasiatic, Turkic ...
at the
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...
.
Life
He was born at Woodside in
Blairgowrie, Perthshire on 18 February 1837.
[''Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae''; p. 387]
Adams studied arts and divinity at the
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...
, receiving a prize for
Biblical criticism
Biblical criticism is the use of critical analysis to understand and explain the Bible. During the eighteenth century, when it began as ''historical-biblical criticism,'' it was based on two distinguishing characteristics: (1) the concern to ...
.
In 1870 he was living in
Dollar, Clackmannanshire
Dollar ( gd, Dolair) is a small town with a population of 2,800 people in Clackmannanshire, Scotland. It is east of Stirling.
Toponymy
Possible interpretations are that Dollar is derived from ''Doilleir'', an Irish and Scots Gaelic word mean ...
, and is thought to have been teaching
classics at
Dollar Academy
Dollar Academy, founded in 1818 by John McNabb, is an independent co-educational day and boarding school in Scotland. The open campus occupies a site in the centre of Dollar, Clackmannanshire, at the foot of the Ochil Hills.
Overview
As of 20 ...
.
He was ordained as a
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland ( sco, The Kirk o Scotland; gd, Eaglais na h-Alba) is the national church in Scotland.
The Church of Scotland was principally shaped by John Knox, in the Scottish Reformation, Reformation of 1560, when it split from t ...
minister at
Monimail,
Fife
Fife (, ; gd, Fìobha, ; sco, Fife) is a council area, historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries with Perth and Kinross ...
in 1875.
In 1880 he replaced Prof David Liston as professor of Hebrew and Semitic Languages at the
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...
. Adams introduced Syriac and Arabic to the syllabus. He was replaced by Prof John Dobie.
He died at Primrose Villa, Victoria Park, in
Trinity, Edinburgh
Trinity is a district of northern Edinburgh, Scotland, once a part of the burgh of Leith (itself a part of the city since 1920). It is one of the outer villa suburbs of Edinburgh mainly created in the 19th century. It is bordered by Wardie to ...
, on 2 August 1892.
[''Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae''; p. 385] He is buried in the south-east section of
Grange Cemetery
The Grange (originally St Giles' Grange) is an affluent suburb of Edinburgh, just south of the city centre, with Morningside, Edinburgh, Morningside and Greenhill, Edinburgh, Greenhill to the west, Newington, Edinburgh, Newington to the east, ...
in south Edinburgh.
Family
He was married to Sarah Emma Child Sneezum (1842–1899). They had several children: William David Adams (d. 1927); Charles Walter Adams; Edward Francis Adams; Herbert Frederick Wilfred Adams; Euphemia Laird Adams (1870-1916); and Louisa Emma Adams. Louisa married
George Washington Browne
Sir George Washington Browne (21 September 1853 – 15 June 1939) was a Scottish architect. He was born in Glasgow, and trained there and in London. He spent most of his career in Edinburgh, although his work can be found throughout Scotland an ...
in 1905.
[
]
Artistic recognition
A sketch of Prof Adams by William Brassey Hole
William Brassey Hole RSA (7 November 1846 – 22 October 1917) was a Scottish artist, illustrator, etcher, and engraver, known for his industrial, historical and biblical scenes.
Life
Early life and training
Hole was born in Salisbury, ...
is held by the Scottish National Portrait Gallery
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is an art museum on Queen Street, Edinburgh. The gallery holds the national collections of portraits, all of which are of, but not necessarily by, Scots. It also holds the Scottish National Photography Co ...
.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, David Laird
1837 births
1892 deaths
People from Blairgowrie and Rattray
19th-century Scottish clergy
Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
Academics of the University of Edinburgh