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Mackinnon, Donald, 1839-1914 (Professor of Celtic, University of Edinburgh)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1839 - 1914

Biography

Donald Mackinnon was born in Kilchattan on Colonsay, in the Hebrides, on 18 April 1839. He was educated locally and then later, from the age of eighteen, at the Church of Scotland Training College, Edinburgh, which was apopular route to studying at Edinburgh University. Between 1860 and 1863 he was engaged as a school-teacher in Lochinver, Sutherlandshire, where he made a close study of the dialects and literature of the North Highlands. Mackinnon studied at Edinburgh University where he obtained the degree of M.A. in 1870. Earlier, in 1869, he had become Clerk to the Church of Scotland's Educational Scheme, and in 1872 he was Clerk to the Endowed Schools and Hospitals Commission.

After the passing of the Education Act, and on the formation of the School Board of Edinburgh, Mackinnon was appointed as its first Clerk and Treasurer. This was a difficult time to hold such a position because Scottish Education was in the transition stage from control by the Churches to control by elected bodies.

In 1882, he became the first Professor of Celtic at Edinburgh University, and he held the chair until 1914. His experience and acquaintance with the North Highlands served him in his capacity as member of the Crofters Royal Commission chaired by Lord Napier in 1883. Mackinnon's contribution to the Commission's Report was impressive enough to speed up subsequent legislation for the improvement of conditions for Scotland's crofters. Among his publications were the Reading book for the use of students of the Gaelic class at Edinburgh University (1889), and On the dialects of Scottish Gaelic.

Professor Donald Mackinnon died in Balnahard on Colonsay on 25 December 1914.

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:

Celtic Class Notes, 1890-1891

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW23
Scope and Contents

2 volumes of celtic class notes taken by Rev Charles Robertson. It is likely that the lectures in these notebooks were delivered by Donald Mackinnon. Contents include gaelic translations, gaelic phonetics, proverbs and riddles, old gaelic hymns, literature and philology.

Dates: 1890-1891

Collection of Professor Donald Mackinnon

 Fonds
Identifier: Coll-98
Scope and Contents The collection of Professor Donald Mackinnon includes lecture notes on the Gaelic language and culture, copies of Gaelic songs and poetry, religious texts such as hymns and sermons, fragments of medieval manuscripts, newspaper clippings, and photographs. As the first Chair in Celtic at the University of Edinburgh, Professor Mackinnon was very diligent in his work to document and share Gaelic language, literature, and history. The collection not only includes primary and secondary sources, it...
Dates: 15th-19th century

Notes on Gaelic Grammar and Vocabulary, late 19th-early 20th century

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW16
Scope and Contents Notebook containing notes on Gaelic Grammar and Vocabulary. It is likely that these are class notes produced by the Rev Charles Robertson from Donald Mackinnon's lectures in the Celtic Department at Edinburgh University. This is possibly not the original notebook but a copy of Robertson's work. The notebook includes, notes on 'The Celt in English Art' taken from an article by Grant Allen in the Fortnightly Review February, 1891, pp267. Also notes on Old...
Dates: late 19th-early 20th century

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 2
Collection 1
 
Subject
Lectures and Lecturing 2
Linguistics 2
Scottish Gaelic literature 2
Celtic studies 1
Folklore 1