Muir, Sir William, 1819-1905 (Knight; Scottish Orientalist and Principal of the University of Edinburgh)
Dates
- Existence: 1819 - 1905
Biography
William Muir was born in Glasgow in 1819. He was educated at Kilmarnock Academy and then at Edinburgh and Glasgow Universities. After his university education he gained a post with the East India Company in the North-West Provinces of India. He entered the Bengal Civil Service in 1837 and became Secretary to the Governor of the North-West Provinces at Agra. His work, particularly during the Sepoy Mutiny (when he was in charge of the Intelligence Department) and his experience, influence, and writing on the history of Islam, led to his appointment in 1868 as Lieutenant-Governor of the North-West Provinces. He had been created Knight Commander of the Star of India in 1867. Between 1874 and 1876 Muir was Financial Minister to the Government of India, and from 1876 to 1885 he was a Member of the Council of the Secretary of State for India. On leaving India he joined the Council of India in London but resigned on his appointment as Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Edinburgh University in 1885. During his term of office, the University underwent many changes as a result of the Universities (Scotland) Act of 1889. Muir resigned in 1903 because of ill health and died at Dean Park House in Edinburgh on 11 July 1905.
Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:
Letter of Sir William Muir to Mrs Lessel, 14 March 1870
This is a manuscript letter on Government House, Allahabad letter-headed paper written and signed by Sir William Muir and dated 14 March 1870. Muir writes in his capacity as Lieutenant-Governor of the North-West Provinces of British India. The addressee is probably Isabella Ramsay, second wife of missionary Thomas L. Lessel. The letter concerns arrangements for the Lessels' return to Great Britain in 1870.
Or Ms 155: أنوار التنزيل وأسرار التأويل Anwār al-tanzīl wa asrār al-taʼwīl, undated (extant by 16th cent. C.E.)
A complete copy of the well-known commentary upon the Qur'an of al-Bayḍāwī (Naṣīr al-Dīn ‘Abd-Allāh b. ‘Umar). This copy has numerous notes transcribed on the margins. The names of the surahs (chapters) are written on the left top corner of each page.
Frontispiece illuminated with gold.
Or Ms 162: طبقات الكبير Ṭabaqāt al-Kabīr, undated
Or Ms 163: تاريخ الخلفاء للسيوطى Tāʼrīkh al-khulafāʼ li-al-Suyūṭī, 1258 A.H., 1842 C.E.
This is a history of the caliphs by Jalāl al-Dīn Suyūṭī b. ‘Abd al-Raḥmān b. Abī Bakr, who was a most prolific writer of Egypt and died 911 A.H., 1505 C.E.
Or Ms 166: اخبار مکّه Akhbār Makkah, 890 A.H., 1485 C.E.
A history from the earliest times of Makkah (Mecca), the birth place of Prophet Muḥammad. It was compiled by al-Imām Abiī al-Walīd Muḥammad b. 'Abd-allāh b. Abī al-Walīd Aḥmad b. Muḥammad b. al-Walīd al-Ghassanī al-Azraqī al-Makkī (d. 244 A.H., 858 C.E.).
From the present copy the first leaf is unfortunately missing, but for the title and date of transcription see fol. 89b and the colophon.
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- Type: Archival Object X
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- Subject
- Islam -- History 3
- Biography 2
- Allahabad (India) 1
- Correspondence 1
- Illuminated manuscripts 1