Biography

Lauriston William Sharp was born on 1 January 1897. He was educated at Leith Academy and then studied at Edinburgh University, graduating with First Class Honours in English in 1920. He had previously graduated with an Ordinary M.A. in 1918. After study at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, he was awarded the degree of Ph.D. in 1927. Earlier, in 1926, Sharp joined the staff as an Assistant Librarian and went on to become the first Keeper of Manuscripts there. He was appointed as Librarian in 1939 and held the post until 1959. In 1945 he was given the rank of Reader in Bibliography and as such he was a member of Senatus in 1951-1956. His own particular fields of interest were literary and historical studies. He edited the Early letters of Robert Wodrow, 1698-1709 (1937). Lauriston William Sharp died in Edinburgh on 29 June 1959.

The above biographical history was compiled using the following material: (1) University of Edinburgh Journal ,Vol.10. 1939-1940, p.24, Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd. (2) University of Edinburgh Journal , Vol.19. 1958-1960, pp.291-292, Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd. (3) A great librarian. 1939-1959. Lauriston W. Sharp, University of Edinburgh Gazette , No.25. October 1959, , pp.14-16, Edinburgh: University Press. (4) Who was who , Vol.5. 1951-1960, London: Adam and Charles Black,

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