Papers of George Low
Scope and Contents
The material consists of Low's Orkney manuscripts dating from circa 1773 in 3 volumes, from History of Orkney parts 1-8, History of Orkney parts 9-19, to Description and chronology parts 20-25, at Dc.6.102/1-3. There is also a typed transcript of the same. At Dc.6.103 there is work on Orkney flora and fauna, and at Dc.6.104 a course of microscopical observations from 1771-1772. There is a cabinet of curiosities collected by Low, 1766-1768 at Dc.6.105, and some notes and sketches in natural history at Stromness 1770, at Dc.6.106. The material also includes memorandums of the natural history of Orkney, Fauna and flora Orcadenses, No.3, 1772, at Dc.6.107.
Dates
- Creation: 1766-1773
Language of Materials
English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open. Please contact the repository in advance.
Biographical / Historical
George Low was born in Edzell, Angus, in 1747. He was educated at Marischal College, Aberdeen, and then at St. Andrews University. In 1768, Low went to Stromness, Orkney, as a tutor. The rest of his life was taken up by the study of the natural history of the Orkney Islands, looking at birds, flora and fauna, and marine life there. As an aid to his studies of marine life, he constructed a microscope. In 1771, Low became licensed as a Minister by the Presbytery of Cairston, but he remained in Stromness for a couple more years after that. In the meantime, in 1772, after a visit to Iceland, the explorer and naturalist Sir Joseph Banks (1743-1820) visited Orkney in the company of the Swedish botanist Dr. Daniel Solander (1736-1782), and physician Dr. James Lind (1716-1794). Through them, Low was able to widen his correspondence and connections, and in 1774 began a tour of the south islands of Orkney and the whole of the Shetland Islands. Also in 1774, he was installed in the Parish of Birsay and Harray, and as Minister there, in relative seclusion, he was able to complete his works on the history and flora and fauna of Orkney. This was in addition to earlier work on the commerce, population, language, and archaeology of the islands. In 1778, Low toured the north islands of Orkney. Extensive use of the microscope during his research probably contributed to the onset of opthalmia and near complete blindness by 1793, thus cutting him off from his studies. George Low died in Orkney on 13 March 1795.
Extent
1 box, 8 volumes (3 of which in are in cases).
Physical Location
Dc.6.102-107
Other Finding Aids
Important finding aids generally are: the alphabetical Index to Manuscripts held at Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections and Archives, consisting of typed slips in sheaf binders and to which additions were made until 1987; and the Index to Accessions Since 1987.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The material was received from Dr. John Trail, 1920.
Bibliography
Subject
- Low, George, 1746-1795, Naturalist (Person)
- Title
- Papers of George Low (1747-1795)
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk